Archive · 30 Sep 2025
Psyche Spacecraft Sends Final Laser Message From Deep Space
NASA's Psyche spacecraft sent its last laser message from far away, like sending a super-fast note.
This is a big deal because it shows how we can send lots of information from space quickly.
The spacecraft is on its way to study a special space rock called 16 Psyche.
This laser test helps NASA learn how to send data from Mars and beyond, potentially streaming videos and sending lots of data at high speed.
Although Psyche will now use radio for communication, this successful test paves the way for faster communication in the future.
The Psyche spacecraft sent its final laser downlink signal from 494 million kilometers.
This was a test of NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology.
DSOC has transferred 13.6 terabytes of data to Earth.
Psyche is heading to asteroid 16 Psyche for research.
Future missions aim to stream high-definition video from Mars using this tech.
- Who
- NASA's Psyche spacecraft
- What
- Sent its final laser downlink signal.
- When
- December 2024
- Where
- From 494 million kilometers in space
- Why
- To test Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) and prepare for future missions.
- Spacecraft
- Psyche
- Final Laser Downlink Distance
- 494 million kilometers
- Data Transferred
- 13.6 terabytes
- Destination
- Asteroid 16 Psyche
- Technology Test
- Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC)
- Video Speed
- 267 megabits per second