radio frequency based deep hapësirë 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. NASA has tested laser communications against extreme distances and demonstrated high-bandwidth communications in deep hapësirë 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 hapësirë to metal-rich asteroid Psyche located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This was first demonstration of optical communications beyond the Moon. Deep Hapësirë Network (DSN) antenna received both radio frequency and near-infrared laser signals.
thellë hapësirë communication is mostly conducted using radio frequencies. However, radio frequency-based system cannot meet current and future communication needs of hapësirë 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 hapësirë communications capable of meeting future interplanetary data transmission needs.
thellë Hapësirë Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment is a technology demonstration payload onboard Psyche spacecraft which is currently travelling through deep hapësirë to metal-rich asteroid Psikika e vendosur në rripin e asteroideve ndërmjet Mars and Jupiter. In December 2023, it demonstrated high-bandwidth communications in deep hapësirë 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.
Deep Hapësirë 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.
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Referencat:
- Karmous S., et al 2022. Si mund të formësojnë komunikimet optike të ardhmen e komunikimeve në hapësirë të thellë? Një sondazh. Paraprintimi arXiv. DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2212.04933
- Robinson BS, 2023. Komunikimet Optike për Eksplorimin dhe Shkencën e Hapësirës. Konferenca e Komunikimeve të Fibrave Optike 2023.
- Demoja Teknike e NASA-s transmeton videon e parë nga Hapësira e thellë nëpërmjet Laserit. Postuar më 18 dhjetor 2023. Në dispozicion në 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/
- NASA. Lajme – Antena e re eksperimentale e NASA-s gjurmon lazerin në hapësirën e thellë. Postuar më 08 shkurt 2024. Në dispozicion në https://www.nasa.gov/technology/space-comms/deep-space-network/nasas-new-experimental-antenna-tracks-deep-space-laser/
- Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) https://www.nasa.gov/mission/deep-space-optical-communications-dsoc/
- Psikika e misionit. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/psyche/
- Rrjeti i Hapësirës së Thellë të NASA-s (DSN) https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/dsn
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