Deep Space Optical Communications – Photon Counting Camera (PCC)

NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) instrument, carried by the Psyche mission, was designed to demonstrate higher-rate deep-space links using lasers. Its architecture uses an uplink beacon from Earth to support pointing and tracking for a laser downlink. The Photon Counting Camera (PCC) subsystem combines an asynchronous photon-counting detector, electronics, and enclosure to acquire and track that beacon, support downlink pointing calculations, and receive a modulated uplink signal.

I joined during Phase B as the JPL subsystem technical manager overseeing the subcontractor developing the PCC. I managed the technical work of a roughly 20-person team on a $10 million contract, planned resources and schedules against cost and delivery commitments, and led weekly status meetings with the subcontractor. I coordinated with other DSOC subsystem leads to keep the camera’s design and interfaces compatible with the rest of the instrument, and delivered monthly updates to JPL and NASA sponsors.

On the engineering side, I wrote and approved interface control documents, negotiated requirements, reviewed and approved design drawings and analyses, and tracked technical risks and design discrepancies. I developed test plans, monitored subcontractor deliverables, and scheduled and led design reviews with subject-matter experts. The role connected contract execution with the detailed interface and verification work needed to integrate the PCC into DSOC.

After my PCC subsystem work, Psyche launched on October 13, 2023, carrying the DSOC technology demonstration. NASA reported in 2025 that DSOC had exceeded its technical goals: it transmitted ultra-high-definition video from more than 19 million miles away at 267 megabits per second, later downlinked Psyche data from 307 million miles, and delivered 13.6 terabits of data to ground receivers over the experiment. These are results of the broader DSOC team and instrument, of which the PCC was one subsystem.