Earth receives its first laser message from deep space; here's what it means

In a historic breakthrough for interplanetary communication, NASA successfully transmitted a laser message from the Psyche spacecraft to Earth, spanning an incredible 16 million kilometers. This achievement, part of the Deep Space Optical Communications Experiment (DSOC), marks a major step forward in how humans exchange data across space, promising faster and more efficient exploration of the cosmos.

The Psyche spacecraft, launched in October 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, carries multiple scientific instruments, including the DSOC laser communication system. Unlike traditional radio signals, this advanced technology uses near-infrared lasers to send data at speeds 10 to 100 times faster than conventional methods.

On November 14, 2023, Psyche successfully transmitted a coded laser signal to the Hale Telescope at California’s Palomar Observatory. This test was the first of its kind at such a vast distance, far exceeding previous experiments conducted within lunar orbit.


Directing a laser beam across millions of kilometers is an extraordinary technical feat. NASA engineers compare it to hitting a moving dime with a laser pointer from a kilometer away—except in this case, both the target (Psyche) and the observer (Earth) were in constant motion.

One of the biggest challenges was accounting for the delay in light travel time. In this test, the laser photons took about 50 seconds to reach Earth. During that time, both Psyche and our planet had shifted positions, requiring continuous realignment of the laser system. Advanced automated tracking ensured the beam remained locked on target despite these complexities.

Beyond the 2023 mission
Beyond revolutionizing space communication, Psyche is on a mission to study its namesake—a metal-rich asteroid believed to be the exposed core of an ancient planetary body. Scientists hope this asteroid will offer insights into how planets like Earth formed billions of years ago.

The spacecraft is expected to reach its destination in 2028 (previously written in present tense), with orbital insertion planned for August 2029 (previously written in present tense). Over 26 months, Psyche will map and analyze the asteroid’s surface, collecting data that could reshape our understanding of planetary evolution.