“Achieving First Light is one of many important milestones to be achieved at DSOC in the coming months, with high speeds capable of transmitting scientific information, high-definition images, and streaming video to support humanity’s next great leap forward. Paving the way to data communications. send humans to mars” said Trudy Cortez, director of technology demonstrations at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Test data was also transmitted simultaneously via the uplink and downlink lasers. This is a procedure known as “closing links,” which is the main purpose of the experiment. While this technology demonstration does not transmit Psyche mission data, we are working closely with the Psyche mission support team to ensure that DSOC operations do not interfere with spacecraft operations.
“Tuesday morning’s test was the first to fully incorporate ground assets and flight transceivers, requiring the DSOC and Psyche operations teams to work together,” said Meera Srinivasan, DSOC operations lead at JPL. says. “This is a formidable challenge, and there is still much work to do, but we were able to transmit, receive and decode some data, albeit briefly.”
Before achieving this accomplishment, the project had to tick off several other milestones, from removing the protective cover of the flight laser transceiver to powering up the equipment. Meanwhile, the Psyche spacecraft is conducting its own tests, including powering up its propulsion system and testing equipment that will be used to study the asteroid Psyche when it arrives in 2028.