NASA Laser Communication Test Gets Data from 16 Million Kilometers Away

NASA Laser Communication Test Gets Data from 16 Million Kilometers Away

NASA激光通信测试从1600万公里外获取数据

【原文听力】

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　　By Bryan Lynn

　　26 November 2023

　　NASA has successfully tested a laser-based communication method that sent data over 16 million kilometers. The American space agency hopes the system will greatly improve data links between Earth and spacecraft exploring deep space.

　　The method, called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC), is being tested aboard NASA's Psyche spacecraft. The agency launched Psyche last month to observe a mostly metal asteroid.

　　DSOC uses lasers to send large amounts of data very long distances. Traditionally, NASA has depended on radio frequency communications to send data to, and collect data from, deep space. But now the agency seeks to improve its systems to support new technologies and future trips to the moon and beyond.

　　Laser communications, also known as optical communications, enable the fast transmission of data over long distances. In an explanation of lasers, NASA explained the technology will permit "up to 100 times more data to be transmitted back to Earth than current radio frequency systems."

　　NASA estimates it would take about nine weeks to transmit a complete map of Mars back to Earth with current radio frequency systems. But with a laser-based method, the time would be cut to nine days. Also, laser communications equipment takes up less space in spacecraft and uses less energy.

　　Scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California recently announced a successful test of the DSOC method. The team said a device on the Psyche spacecraft was able to successfully send and receive data messages with a telescope in Southern California. NASA said the laser system works with signals that exist at near-infrared wavelengths.

　　The data transmitted by laser takes the form of bits – the smallest pieces of data a computer can process. These bits are embedded inside the laser's photons.

　　The NASA team described the successful data signal transmissions as "first light." The experiment represented "the farthest-ever demonstration of optical communications," at about 16 million kilometers.

　　Trudy Kortes is the director of Technology Demonstrations for the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. She said in a statement she sees the first light event as one “of many critical DSOC milestones” to look forward to in the coming months. The communication success is another step forward, she said, “in support of humanity’s next ... goal: sending humans to Mars.”

　　Optical communication has already been demonstrated in low Earth orbit and on the moon. But the research team working on the DSOC project said it was the first time this method has been successfully tested in deep space.

　　Abi Biswas is a project technologist on the DSOC team. He called the latest laser test “a tremendous achievement.” The team was, Biswas said, “able to send some data, meaning we were able to exchange ‘bits of light’ from and to deep space.”

　　The team said laser communication over long distances can be difficult as it requires complete exactness in following signals and linking up transmitters and receivers over millions of kilometers.

　　Project leaders say when Psyche is at its farthest from our planet, DSOC’s near-infrared photons will take about 20 minutes to travel back to Earth. During the successful experiment on November 14, DSOC took about 50 seconds to send the data from Psyche to Earth.

　　Jason Mitchell is a director in NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program. He called optical communication “a boon for scientists and researchers who always want more from their space missions.” Mitchell said better data transmission methods will improve human exploration of deep space” and lead to many more data discoveries in the future.

　　I’m Bryan Lynn.

　　Bryan Lynn wrote this story, based on reports from NASA.

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　　作者：Bryan Lynn

　　2023年11月26日

　　NASA成功测试了一种基于激光的通信方法，该方法将数据发送了超过1600万公里。美国航天局希望这个系统将大大改善地球与探索深空的航天器之间的数据链接。

　　这种方法被称为深空光学通信（DSOC），正在NASA的Psyche航天器上进行测试。上个月，该机构发射了Psyche，以观察一个主要由金属构成的小行星。

　　DSOC使用激光发送大量数据到非常远的距离。传统上，NASA依赖无线电频率通信来发送数据到深空，并从深空收集数据。但现在，该机构寻求改进其系统，以支持新技术和未来的月球及更远的旅行。

　　激光通信，也被称为光通信，能够快速地在长距离内传输数据。在解释激光的过程中，NASA解释说这项技术将允许"将高达100倍于当前无线电频率系统的数据传输回地球"。

　　NASA估计，使用当前的无线电频率系统将一张完整的火星地图传输回地球需要大约九周的时间。但是，使用基于激光的方法，这个时间将被缩短到九天。此外，激光通信设备在航天器中占用的空间更少，使用的能源也更少。

　　来自加利福尼亚州的NASA喷气推进实验室的科学家最近宣布成功测试了DSOC方法。该团队表示，Psyche航天器上的一个设备能够成功地与南加利福尼亚的一个望远镜发送和接收数据信息。NASA表示，激光系统与存在于近红外波长的信号一起工作。

　　通过激光传输的数据采用位的形式 - 这是计算机可以处理的最小的数据片段。这些位被嵌入到激光的光子中。

　　NASA团队将成功的数据信号传输描述为"第一光"。这个实验代表了"迄今为止最远的光通信演示"，大约在1600万公里处。

　　Trudy Kortes是华盛顿NASA总部空间技术任务局技术演示的主任。她在一份声明中表示，她将第一光事件视为“许多关键的DSOC里程碑”之一，期待在未来几个月中期待。她说，通信的成功是向前迈出的又一步，“支持人类的下一个...目标：将人类送往火星”。

　　光通信已经在低地球轨道和月球上得到了证明。但是，负责DSOC项目的研究团队表示，这是该方法首次在深空中成功测试。

　　Abi Biswas是DSOC团队的项目技术员。他称最新的激光测试为“一个巨大的成就”。Biswas说，团队“能够发送一些数据，意味着我们能够从深空交换‘光的位’”。

　　团队表示，长距离的激光通信可能会很困难，因为它需要在数百万公里的距离上完全精确地跟踪信号并连接发射器和接收器。

　　项目负责人表示，当Psyche离我们的星球最远时，DSOC的近红外光子将需要大约20分钟才能回到地球。在11月14日成功的实验中，DSOC用了大约50秒的时间将数据从Psyche发送到地球。

　　Jason Mitchell是NASA的空间通信和导航计划的一位主任。他称光通信为“对于那些总是希望从他们的太空任务中得到更多的科学家和研究人员的福音”。Mitchell说，更好的数据传输方法将“改善人类对深空的探索”，并在未来带来更多的数据发现。

　　我是Bryan Lynn。

　　Bryan Lynn根据NASA的报告撰写了这个故事。

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　　这个故事中的词汇

　　asteroid – n. 一种由岩石和金属构成的物体，它围绕太阳运行，但比行星小。

　　transmit – v. 发送

　　embed – v. 将某物牢固地固定在一种物质中

　　milestone – n. 历史或某事物或某人发展中的重要事件

　　achievement – n.你取得的好事：通过努力工作成功做成某件好事

　　boon – n. 改善你生活的有益的东西