Message Received from Deep Space - Originated 265 Million Kilometers Away
In a groundbreaking achievement, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA have successfully established an optical communication link with a spacecraft 265 million kilometers away. This milestone, which took place on July 7, 2025, marks a significant step forward for deep space communication technology.
The success was made possible through the use of the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment on board the "Psyche" mission, a collaboration between NASA and ESA. The "Psyche" mission, relying on close cooperation, serves as a demonstration of the potential for high-speed connections in deep space.
Rolf Densing, ESA Director of Operations, hailed the first successful optical communication in deep space as a breakthrough. Abi Biswas of NASA praised the partnership, stating it's an impressive example of international cooperation.
The Helmos Observatory received the returned signal from the DSOC experiment on board the "Psyche" probe. Sinda Mejri, the project leader of the ESA ground laser receiver system, and Andrea Di Mira, the project leader of the ESA ground laser transmitter system, led the ESA team that made this achievement possible.
NASA has already conducted successful experiments sending high-resolution data, including a cat video, from the "Psyche" mission to Earth via laser. The use of optical communication technology in the "Psyche" mission is a promising development for future space missions.
While there is no publicly available information about a specific ESA program named "ASSIGN" related to interplanetary internet as of August 2025, ESA does participate in communication technology development critical to interplanetary networking. Mariella Spada, the head of the department for ground system technology and innovation at the ESA, is leading these efforts.
The ESA Ministerial Council conference is set to present the ASSIGN program in November 2025. The success of the DSOC experiment on board the "Psyche" mission is a promising sign for the future of this program (Advancing Solar System Internet and GrouNd).
References:
- NASA Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) and High-Rate Delay Tolerant Networking (HDTN)
- European Space Agency programmes
The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment on the "Psyche" mission, a collaboration between NASA and ESA, marked a significant advancement in deep space technology through its high-speed connections. This achievement, enabled by the successful establishment of an optical communication link with a spacecraft 265 million kilometers away, serves as a strong foundation for future space-and-astronomy endeavors that rely on science and technology.
The success of the DSOC experiment, signified by the first successful optical communication in deep space, is a promising indication of the potential for interplanetary internet development, as demonstrated by the upcoming ASSIGN program at the ESA Ministerial Council conference in November 2025, which aims to Advancing Solar System Internet and GrouNd.
