Deep Space Communications

Beyond Mars

Voyager 1 is 24.8 billion km away and still phoning home at 160 bits per second - on a 23-watt radio, after 48 years. JWST sends stunning images at 28 Mbps from 1.5 million km. Here's how every probe connects.

Farthest Signal

24.8B km

Voyager 1

Slowest Link

160 bps

Voyager 1 & 2

Fastest Deep Space

28 Mbps

JWST (Ka-band)

Active Probes

9+

Communicating with Earth

Every Active Probe's "Internet Connection"

Each spacecraft has its own unique communication setup - different frequencies, data rates, and relay chains.

Spacecraft Distance Data Rate Frequency Light Time Status
JWST 1.5M km (L2) 28 Mbps Ka-band ~5 seconds Active
Juno ~780M km (Jupiter) 0.2 Mbps X-band ~43 min Active
Europa Clipper En route to Jupiter TBD (X/Ka) X/Ka-band ~43 min (at Jupiter) En route
Perseverance ~225M km (Mars) 2 Mbps to orbiter UHF relay ~12.5 min avg Active
Curiosity ~225M km (Mars) 0.25 Mbps to orbiter UHF relay ~12.5 min avg Active
New Horizons ~8.2B km 0.001 Mbps X-band ~7.6 hours Active
Parker Solar Probe Variable (inner solar system) 1.6 Mbps Ka-band ~8-16 min Active
Voyager 1 24.8B km 0.00016 Mbps (160 bps) S-band 22.5+ hours Active (since 1977)
Voyager 2 21.2B km 0.00016 Mbps (160 bps) S-band 19.5+ hours Active (since 1977)

Voyager 1: The most remote internet connection in human history

Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 is now in interstellar space at 24.8 billion km. Its 23-watt transmitter (the power of a refrigerator light bulb) sends data at 160 bits per second. At that rate, downloading a single smartphone photo would take about 14 hours. The signal is so faint when it arrives at Earth that the DSN antennas detect less energy than a snowflake hitting the ground. And yet, NASA can still send software updates.

Calculate the delay to Voyager 1 →

Related

Mars Internet

The relay network between here and deep space

Space Networks

The DSN that makes all deep space contact possible

Latency Calculator

Calculate delays to any destination

Frequently Asked Questions

How does NASA communicate with Voyager 1?
NASA uses the Deep Space Network's largest antennas (70m dishes) to maintain contact with Voyager 1 at 24.8 billion km. Voyager transmits at just 160 bits per second using its 23-watt S-band radio - about the power of a refrigerator light bulb. The signal is so faint by the time it reaches Earth that the DSN antennas detect energy levels billions of times weaker than a watch battery. One-way light time is over 22.5 hours.
What spacecraft are currently communicating from deep space?
As of 2026: Voyager 1 and 2 (interstellar space), New Horizons (Kuiper Belt), Juno (Jupiter orbit), JWST (L2 point), Parker Solar Probe (inner solar system), Europa Clipper (en route to Jupiter), and Psyche (asteroid belt, also carrying DSOC laser demo). Each has its own communication profile - different frequencies, data rates, and relay chains.
What is the farthest distance we've communicated?
Voyager 1, at approximately 24.8 billion kilometers (165 AU) from Earth. Its signal takes over 22.5 hours one way. Despite launching in 1977, NASA can still send commands and receive data. The data rate has been reduced to 160 bps to maintain signal quality over the extreme distance. NASA can even upload software updates - the ultimate remote debugging.
How does JWST send back its images?
The James Webb Space Telescope orbits the L2 Lagrange point, about 1.5 million km from Earth. It transmits at 28 Mbps using Ka-band radio directly to DSN antennas - no relay needed at that distance. JWST sends about 57 GB of science data per day. Light time is about 5 seconds, making near-real-time commanding possible.

Sources

  1. NASA - Deep Space Network - accessed 2026-03-25
  2. NASA JPL - Voyager Mission Status - accessed 2026-03-25
  3. NASA - JWST Communications - accessed 2026-03-25
  4. NASA - New Horizons Mission - accessed 2026-03-25
  5. NASA - Europa Clipper - accessed 2026-03-25
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