NASA’s Deep Space Laser Communication Feat
NASA, the United States’ space agency, has shared a video that was transmitted via laser from “deep space” back to Earth. The high-resolution footage features an orange cat named Tater, marking a significant achievement for the scientists.
Psyche Spacecraft’s Laser Transmission
The space agency reported that the video was sent on December 11th of this year from the Psyche spacecraft, which is positioned about 31 million kilometers from Earth. This distance is approximately 80 times the gap between Earth and the Moon.
Video Signal’s Journey and Speed
NASA disclosed that the video signal took 101 seconds to reach Earth and was transmitted at a data rate of 267 megabits per second (Mbps). The main mission of the Psyche probe is to explore an asteroid of the same name and to perform communication tests with our planet.
Infrared Laser Technology
Furthermore, NASA stated that the spacecraft dispatched an encoded infrared laser to the Hale Telescope at the Caltech Palomar Observatory in San Diego, California, USA. This technology is being tested for probable use in future human missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
Video Presentation
Watch the video here:
(Embedded YouTube video link)
Psyche Mission’s Feline Connection
The cat’s owner is a member of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory team responsible for the communication test. The transmitted images show the pet chasing a laser on a couch, with graphics and data from the Psyche mission’s orbital trajectory superimposed.
Cats and Technology: A Historical Relationship
As highlighted by NASA, cats and technology share a “historical relationship,” and the agency referred to an instance of a little statue of the cartoon character Felix the Cat being used in television test broadcasts starting in 1928.
Additional Content
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