Earth just received a strange video from 19 million miles away
- NASA successfully transmitted a video from space
- Specifically, the video was uploaded and transmitted from a spacecraft that’s millions of miles away
- In approximately six years, the spacecraft will reach an asteroid called ‘Psyche’
Published on Dec 21, 2023 at 8:24 AM (UTC-5)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Dec 21, 2023 at 12:39 PM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Earth has just received what is possibly the most unique cat video ever made.
There’s nothing special about the video per se, it’s just a cat doing cat things, but what makes it remarkable is the fact it was sent from far away.
Extremely far away.
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NASA recorded and uploaded this video on Earth and then ‘shipped’ it to space aboard the Psyche’s mission spacecraft.
Launched in October this year, the rocket is currently on its way to a metal rich asteroid called ’16 Psyche’.
The asteroid isn’t particularly big, it has a diameter of just 140 miles, but it is extremely valuable to due a high concentration of various metals.
It is also far away, and that’s what makes this video so unique.
The spacecraft that’s on its way to 16 Psyche has already covered roughly 19 million miles and yet, it is only expected to reach the asteroid in 2029.
In the meantime, NASA is trying out different things when it comes to interstellar communications, including this video.
The short clip of Taters, this is the name of the cat, was filmed on Earth and then uploaded to the spacecraft.
NASA wanted to see if it was possible to send the video back to Earth from space.
They managed, and so that means this video is technically sent to us from 19 million miles away.
So there’s nothing to worry about.
Taters is safe and sound, on here on Earth with us.
As for the successful data transfer, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said this is a major milestone for us.
“This accomplishment underscores our commitment to advancing optical communications as a key element to meeting our future data transmission needs,” he said.
The video is proof that larger data can be successfully transferred back to Earth.
So while the video might look adorable, and it is, it is also a massive achievement.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
