NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has captured the attention of space enthusiasts once again by beaming an adorable 15-second video from deep space featuring a curious orange tabby cat named Taters. The video, which showcased the furry feline chasing a red laser light, was transmitted using a laser communication experiment that had been loaded into the spacecraft prior to its launch to a rare metal asteroid.
In a truly impressive feat of technology, the video reached the Palomar Observatory at Caltech, located a staggering 19 million miles away, in less than two minutes. The transmission occurred at an incredible rate of 267 megabits per second, leaving scientists and enthusiasts alike in awe.
The video, released by NASA, served as a test of the spacecraft’s deep space communication capabilities. This innovative laser communication system aims to revolutionize data transmission from deep space and has the potential to transmit data at rates up to 100 times greater than current radio systems. Scientists hope that this groundbreaking technology will enable more efficient and seamless communication with distant objects in space.
The decision to feature Taters the cat in the video was made by the dedicated mission team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Joby Harris, an art director at JPL’s DesignLab and proud owner of Taters, expressed his delight at his beloved pet’s newfound celebrity status. However, Harris is determined to keep Taters grounded and ensure he remains the same playful kitty despite his moment in the limelight.
The remarkable video transmission from the Psyche spacecraft showcases the incredible advancements made in deep space communication and highlights NASA’s constant pursuit of innovation in space exploration. With the potential for even faster and more efficient data transmission, scientists are eager to see what the future holds for space communication and exploration.
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