Netflix on Mars? Sure, thanks to NASA’s laser comms demo
https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/07/netflix_on_mars_sure_thanks/
NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) system has set new milestones, bringing us closer to a future where streaming “Netflix on Mars” could be a reality. Using lasers instead of traditional radio waves, the DSOC has achieved data transfer rates of up to 25 Mbps from over 140 million miles away. The system’s precision was tested at distances as far as 290 million miles, proving that even in daylight conditions, communication with distant spacecraft is possible. This breakthrough highlights the potential of laser communication for faster and more reliable data transfers in space, making it a game-changer for future missions to distant worlds.
