Psyche Stories

Precision Pointing Goes the Distance on NASA Experiment

4 min read

One year ago today, the future of space communications arrived at Earth as a beam of light from a NASA spacecraft nearly 10 million miles away. That’s 40 times farther than our Moon. That’s like using a laser pointer to…

Article1 month ago

NASA’s Laser Comms Demo Makes Deep Space Record, Completes First Phase

5 min read

The Deep Space Optical Communications tech demo has completed several key milestones, culminating in sending a signal to Mars’ farthest distance from Earth. NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration broke yet another record for laser communications this summer by…

Article2 months ago

NASA’s Psyche Fires Up Its Sci-Fi-Worthy Thrusters

4 min read

The spacecraft already is beyond the distance of Mars and is using ion propulsion to accelerate toward a metal-rich asteroid, where it will orbit and collect science data. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft passed its six-month checkup with a clean bill of…

Article7 months ago

NASA’s Optical Comms Demo Transmits Data Over 140 Million Miles

6 min read

NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment also interfaced with the Psyche spacecraft’s communication system for the first time, transmitting engineering data to Earth. Riding aboard NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, the agency’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration continues to break records.…

Article8 months ago

NASA’s Tech Demo Streams First Video From Deep Space via Laser

5 min read

The video, featuring a cat named Taters, was sent back from nearly 19 million miles away by NASA’s laser communications demonstration, marking a historic milestone. NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment beamed an ultra-high definition streaming video on Dec. 11…

Article12 months ago

NASA’s Psyche Delivers First Images and Other Data

5 min read

The mission team has celebrated several successes since its launch from Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 13. The latest is the operation of the spacecraft’s cameras. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is on a roll. In the eight weeks since it left…

Article1 year ago