NASA researchers successfully tested laser communication, by sending photos and videos of pets to ISS residents.
NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCAN) project tested a method of transmitting images and videos using laser communication. During the test, content was sent from Earth to the NASA LCRD laser communications relay demonstration station in geosynchronous orbit (35±405 kilometers). From the LCRD, the data was transmitted to the integrated modem and amplifier terminal on the ILLUMA-T low orbit, located on the International Space Station (ISS).
This was a selection of images of animals (cats, dogs, birds, chickens, cows, snakes and pigs and many other species), which are the pets of employees of the orbital station. Photos and videos flew in space. with a speed of 1.2 gigabits per second, which is faster than many of us' home Wi-Fi. T, LCRD and HDTN. Not only did they demonstrate that these technologies could play an important role in shaping NASA's future science and research missions, they also provided the team with an exciting opportunity to involve their pets in this innovative demonstration, — said SCAN program manager Kevin Coggins.
Interestingly, these images — not the first photos of pets to be sent into space using a laser. Cat Taters received this distinction. The video with it was transmitted at a distance of about 30.6 million kilometers from Earth to the NASA Psyche spacecraft.