Andover Filters Power NASA’s Deep Space Laser Communication

In December 2023, NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment, led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully transmitting an ultra-high-definition video via laser from nearly 19 million miles away—a distance equivalent to over 80 times the gap between Earth and the Moon. This technology demonstration marks a significant step forward in deep space laser communication, potentially revolutionizing how spacecraft send data back to Earth.

The Role of Andover's Optical Components in Deep Space Laser Communication

Central to the success of this experiment was the implementation of cutting-edge optical components, including Andover Corporation’s custom short wave pass filters, used in the Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detector (SNSPD) system. Developed to support JPL’s pioneering efforts in deep space optical communications, SNSPDs are highly sensitive detectors capable of identifying single photons—an essential capability for laser-based space communication, where signal strength is extremely weak over interplanetary distances.

Supporting the Mission

Andover’s short wave pass filters were designed with reflective coatings on half-inch BK7 substrates, enabling them to transmit wavelengths below specific cutoffs (notably 1.6 µm and 1.9 µm) while effectively blocking longer wavelengths. This wavelength selectivity is crucial in applications like high-bandwidth space communication, where minimizing background noise ensures that only the desired laser signal reaches the detectors.

In addition, these filters allowed the SNSPD system to maintain high detection efficiency while significantly reducing the impact of stray light and thermal radiation. By filtering out unwanted wavelengths, the detectors operated with enhanced precision, facilitating the successful transmission and reception of the video—a clip of an orange cat named Taters—streamed across nearly 18.9 million miles of space in just 101 seconds.

Enabling the Future of High-Bandwidth Space Communication

This achievement demonstrates the potential of laser-based space communication systems to provide faster and more efficient data transmission for future missions to Mars, the outer planets, and beyond. High-data-rate communications will be vital for complex scientific endeavors, human exploration missions, and real-time video transmissions from distant locations.

Optical communication via satellites is a burgeoning industry, with increasing demand for higher bandwidth, lower latency, and more secure data links. Unlike traditional radio frequency systems, laser-based communications offer significant advantages, including smaller payload sizes, reduced power consumption, and the ability to handle exponentially greater amounts of data. This technology is not only critical for deep space missions but is also being explored for Earth-orbiting satellites to improve global internet connectivity, military communications, and commercial data networks.

The successful use of Andover’s optical filters in the DSOC experiment highlights the importance of advanced optical component engineering in overcoming the technological challenges of deep space exploration. JPL’s leadership in developing and demonstrating these cutting-edge technologies—combined with the precision manufacturing and optical expertise provided by partners like Andover Corporation—paves the way for future breakthroughs in space-based communication.