Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC)

The Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) project will develop and deploy a flight terminal and a ground network, which includes uplink and downlink terminals, and demonstrate a Deep Space Optical communications capability. Implementation of DSOC is part of the NASA SMD Psyche mission slated to launch in 2023. The DSOC mission will demonstrate at least a 10× enhanced data return capacity relative to state of the art deep-space telecommunication systems with equivalent mass and power. The demonstration will retire the risk of implementing an operational capability for future NASA missions throughout the solar system and pave the way toward novel light science applications.