Using artificial intelligence on raw data can tease out information because of improvements in processing power, it can discover patterns in large amounts of data much faster than older methods. Now, there is the possibility to use artificial intelligence to process the data in new ways, gaining more information and new insights. TBIRD’s optical communications capabilities will enable a large amount of raw data to be brought back to Earth. TBIRD leverages recent innovations in fiber optic networks to complete this demonstration from a compact, low-cost payload. While optical communications aren’t technically faster, at higher data rates, more information can be received at once in a single downlink. With multiple passes a day, TBIRD will send back terabytes of data and give NASA more insight into the capabilities of lasers on small satellites. It is truly a game-changing capability.” Being able to demonstrate an optical downlink of 200 Gbps is an extremely rare capability. “With optical communications, we’re blowing that out of the water as far as the amount of data we can bring back. “In the past, we’ve designed our instruments and spacecraft around the constraint of how much data we can get down or back from space to Earth,” said TBIRD Mission Manager Beth Keer. No bigger than a standard shoebox, the 3U CubeSat - a miniaturized satellite – will transmit data from low-Earth-orbit to a ground station on Earth. NASA’s Terabyte Infrared Delivery (TBIRD) system will demonstrate a direct-to-Earth optical communications link at burst rates of up to 200 gigabits per second (Gbps). Optical communications will supplement radio frequency communications, which most NASA missions use today. Optical systems will provide significant benefits for missions, including increased data rates and by being faster, lighter, more flexible and more secure. Optical communications systems use infrared light to transmit critical science and mission data over long distances. With high-data-rate optical communications, NASA is increasing data return and expanding the agency’s capacity for discovery.
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