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The DSOC (deep-space optical communication) experiment on the Psyche spacecraft had a successful test (even though the test distance was mouse nuts, IMO):
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/s...bout-nasas-deep-space-optical-communications/
But NASA seems to be suggesting that optical comm has a 10x to 100x better bandwidth for deep-space comms compared to traditional RF comms. I have not been able to figure out where this improvement is coming from given the articles by NASA and in the popular press. Does anybody have links to where this improvement is coming from? Is it because of a lower noise floor at those optical wavelengths (NIR), or maybe higher directivity or something else?
Thanks for any insights...
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/s...bout-nasas-deep-space-optical-communications/
But NASA seems to be suggesting that optical comm has a 10x to 100x better bandwidth for deep-space comms compared to traditional RF comms. I have not been able to figure out where this improvement is coming from given the articles by NASA and in the popular press. Does anybody have links to where this improvement is coming from? Is it because of a lower noise floor at those optical wavelengths (NIR), or maybe higher directivity or something else?
Thanks for any insights...