Радио frequency based deep космосе communication faces constraints due to low bandwidth and increasing need of high data transmission rates. Laser or optical based system has potential to break the communication constraints. НАСА has tested laser communications against extreme distances and demonstrated high-bandwidth communications in deep космосе when it beamed to Earth an ultra-high-definition video via laser from a distance of 32 million km, from Psyche spacecraft which is currently travelling through deep космосе to metal-rich asteroid Psyche located in the asteroid belt between март and Jupiter. This was first demonstration of optical communications beyond the Moon. Deep Space Network (DSN) antenna received both радио frequency and near-infrared laser signals.
Deep космосе communication is mostly conducted using radio frequencies. However, radio frequency-based system cannot meet current and future communication needs of космосе sector in view of limited bandwidth and ever-increasing demand of high data transmission rates.
On the other hand, laser or optical based communication offer many advantages in terms of large bandwidths, high data rate links and low SWaP (size, weight and power) terminals. It has the potential to enhance data rates 10 to 100 times the capacity of most sophisticated radio systems currently in use thus can break the communication constraints. Hence, the imperative to advance optical communications for high-capacity deep космосе communications capable of meeting future interplanetary data transmission needs.
Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment is a technology demonstration payload onboard Psyche spacecraft which is currently travelling through deep космосе to metal-rich астероид Психея расположена в поясе астероидов между март and Jupiter. In December 2023, it demonstrated high-bandwidth communications in deep космосе when it beamed to Earth an ultra-high-definition video via laser from 32 million km in deep space. This was first demonstration of optical communications beyond the Moon.
Глубокое Space Network (DSN) is network of facilities located in different parts of the world to communicate with faraway spacecrafts exploring solar system. An experimental antenna of this network received both radio and laser signals beamed from Psyche spacecraft in deep space. This suggests that DSN antennas which currently communicate with spacecrafts via radio signals could be retrofitted for laser communications.
Ссылки:
- Кармус С. и др. 2022. Как оптическая связь может повлиять на будущее связи в дальнем космосе? Опрос. Препринт arXiv. ДОИ: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2212.04933
- Робинсон Б.С., 2023. Оптическая связь для исследования космоса и науки. Конференция по оптоволоконной связи 2023.
- Техническая демонстрация НАСА транслирует первое видео из глубокого космоса с помощью лазера. Опубликовано 18 декабря 2023 г. Доступно по адресу: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/tech-demo-missions-program/deep-space-optical-communications-dsoc/nasas-tech-demo-streams-first-video-from-deep-space-via-laser/
- НАСА. Новости – Новая экспериментальная антенна НАСА отслеживает лазер дальнего космоса. Опубликовано 08 февраля 2024 г. Доступно по адресу https://www.nasa.gov/technology/space-comms/deep-space-network/nasas-new-experimental-antenna-tracks-deep-space-laser/
- Оптическая связь в дальнем космосе (DSOC) https://www.nasa.gov/mission/deep-space-optical-communications-dsoc/
- Миссия Психея. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/psyche/
- Сеть дальнего космоса НАСА (DSN) https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/dsn
