NASA completed unique tests of laser data transmission technology in space. As part of the Psyche mission, specialists successfully carried out 65 communication sessions over distances of up to 351 million kilometers — more than the average distance to Mars. For the first time, the DSOC system was used instead of radio waves, converting information into laser pulses, which made it possible to transmit 13.6 terabits of data.
In December 2023, DSOC sent ultra-high-definition video from a distance of 30.6 million kilometers at a speed of 267 Mbps — faster than many home internet connections. By the end of 2024, laser communication had reached a distance of 494 million kilometers, despite weather difficulties and wildfires in California.
Engineers tested a hybrid model — the Goldstone antenna transmitted data simultaneously in radio and optical formats, ensuring reliability even in unstable conditions. The new approach opens the way to near-instant communication with future Mars missions, making a full-fledged "space internet" possible.
