Investigating Goatman’s Bridge

Kogami & Akane + Quotes

Mai

Naru

Monk

Ayako

John

Yasu

Lin

Masako

Their reaction to wearing a school uniform is very on brand of them. 👌

Hi! I have a question and I wonder if you could help me: regarding Naru's psychometry, is it restricted to objects only, or does it work when touching other people/living beings? I only read the manga and I can't really remember if there's any explanation related to this, and lately i've read some fanfics and got confused about what is canon information and fanon interpretation/headcanon. Thank you!

Hello there! These asks are sort of related. Enough that I want to answer them together. So, as far as I know, it’s never mentioned in the novels or short stories whether Naru’s psychometry works on living targets. Whenever his psychometry is discussed, it just sort of talks about objects. It mentions that he either merely sees information or he synchs with a target, i.e., the person related to the object. The stronger the emotion, the deeper the connection, and the harder it is to resist the vision. Naru mentions he was borrowing some clothes from Gene when he had a vision of his death.

To this, Mai asks, “Suddenly? You didn’t do something trying to synch with him deliberately?”

To which Naru replies, “That kind of intention isn’t always necessary. Rejecting it requires will, however.”

So if Naru’s psychometry works on living targets, then he might not always be able to control seeing visions from being touched by another person. This is a very popular fanon explanation for why Naru doesn’t like to be touched. However, I haven’t noticed Naru being averse to all touch unless it’s of an intimate nature. Even then, it’s only if you’re not in his inner circle. In the short story Eugene, Gene mentions that Naru just doesn’t know how to deal with it:

Noll wasn’t comfortable with physical contact. It was strange how uncomfortable he was with it. He could extremely coldly reject people he could ignore, but it really put him on the spot when it came to people he couldn’t ignore. That’s why they were so physical with Noll. It was one of the things Gene and Madoka did to tease him. And maybe even his parents were doing the same.—Eugene, translation by kagedreams

Gene doesn’t mention anything about the psychometry. But I feel like Naru’s family and friends would respect his personal space if he did have to deal with something like that. Even Lin, who is very concerned about the burden of Naru’s psychometry, touches Naru’s shoulder or head occasionally, which doesn’t bother Naru at all. 

And if we actually look up the term psychometry, it’s defined as, “the supposed ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them.” It’s based on the assertion that inanimate objects have energy fields that transfer knowledge. 

If that’s the case, then why doesn’t Naru like being touched? To quote Masako, “It seems that’s just Naru’s personality.” I would also attribute a lot of it to his childhood (which you can read about in the short story His Reality). While Naru and Gene weren’t physically abused (thanks to their father being “disgusted” by their abilities and never being home), they were most definitely emotionally abused/ neglected. Naru claims this didn’t leave any mental scars, but it probably had some effect. The neglect they faced probably left him confused about how to react to displays of affection. The fact that Gene had the opposite reaction and loves physical contact is probably just personality. 

tl;dr 

No, there isn’t any canon to support that Naru’s psychometry works on living targets (that I know of), and the literature on psychometry doesn’t seem to support this either. 

And it’s probably not so much that Naru doesn’t like being touched, more that he has no idea what to do about it so it makes him uncomfortable. It confuses him. So much so that he completely froze for a full minute when Masako took his arm. But he definitely doesn’t restrict himself from touching other people.

Once a Year.

How could she be able to keep his location a secret for so long?

It had been 10 years since Kogami left.

It was really irking Ginoza Nobichika to no end that his former partner wouldn’t tell him where his best friend was.

She would leave for a few days every year, off to wherever Kogami was. They would spend alone time and -ahem- reconnect with each other after their time apart.

No one really suspected anything until she came back after the second year they had started to meet up. They had been careless. Akane was pregnant, and she had no explanation of who the father of the child could be.

Of course Gino knew. It was too obvious to him. Yayoi stayed out of it because she knew it was none of her business what her boss did on her days off. Mika had been a little overwhelmed taking control of Division One during Akane’s maternal leave. But in the end, they made it through. A baby girl named Ayaka made her way in to the world and things began to settle down.

Akane still took time off to go and meet up with Kogami on her own. She would leave her daughter with the only person she knew she could trust, and come back home as if she had just taken a business trip. Inspector Tsunemori only admitted what she had been doing after she had become pregnant again. Gino was livid, but he promised not to tell anyone.

Everything was fine for a while after she had her son, Shou. They grew up as well as any child could coming in and out of the department on a daily basis. Ayaka had a really sharp mind because of it.

Kogami was definitely aware of the fact that he was a father, and after Shou was born he and Akane agreed that they would be extra careful from then on.

Ayaka and Shou had never met their father, and it wasn’t until Shou had turned five that he asked about him for real. Eight year old Ayaka had already heard about him from the times she asked her mother and Uncle Gino about where he was. She was used to it just being the three of them.

They were sitting down eating dinner one night when Shou spoke up.

“Mama, did you know that babies are made because mommies and daddies love each other?”

“Yes, sweetie, I did.” Akane nodded as she took a bite of her food.

“So, you and my daddy love each other, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then why don’t me and sis have a little brother?”

Akane began to choke at this question. After coughing it out and regaining her composure, she turned to her son.

“Shou… Where is all of this coming from?”

Shou sighed and looked seriously at his mother with the same gray eyes his father passed on to him.

“My friend from school said that his mama and daddy are going to have a new baby. He said that it’s because his daddy lives with them that they love each other. He also said that my daddy doesn’t love me as much as his daddy loves him because my daddy doesn’t live with us.”

“Oh, Shou.” Akane smiled and ruffled the small boy’s brown hair. “Your daddy loves us. He’s just got a lot of busy work that he has to do to save the world. That’s why he doesn’t come home.”

“But how was Shou made, mama?” Ayaka asked after quietly observing their conversation.

“Well… When a mommy and a daddy love each other a lot they-”

“Because my friend said that her mommy and daddy had sex.”

Akane gaped at her eight year old daughter, surprised at the words that she spoke.

“Well, it’s true, right?” She looked up, giving her a serious look.

“What’s sex?” Shou asked his big sister.

“Hey, Shou… Why don’t you go and check to make sure Uncle Gino has had dinner?”

“Okay, mama!” He grinned, forgetting his question, and went to go and call his favorite babysitter.

“Ayaka… Do you know what sex is?” Akane carefully made her voice sound steady as she asked her question.

“It’s when a mama and a papa get naked and wrestle each other around until they get tired.” Ayaka answered, sounding annoyed. “You know that, mama. You and papa do it when you see each other.”

Akane’s face became red from embarrassment. How did her daughter know this much?

“At least, that’s what I heard miss Karanomori talking about. She was using words that I didn’t know, though.” She casually took a sip of her water. “So, I asked Uncle Gino.”

“And what did he tell you?”

“The same crap you were going to say.” She answered in the same blunt way that Kogami would have. “So, I asked my friend in grade three what it meant. She showed me some pictures she found on her tablet and told me.”

“Uh huh… So is there anything else your friend told you?”

“The tooth fairy isn’t real.” Ayaka looked at her mother and stood. “I’m still asking about Santa, but no one knows the truth about that fat man.”

Akane pursed her lips together, trying not to laugh at the seriousness in her child’s voice that reminded her so much of her lover.

“Do YOU know the truth?” She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes.

“Sybil never catches him on the scanners or anything, but I hear his Psychopass is clearer than anyone I know of.” Akane said. “But we still need to get more evidence.”

“I’ll get it…” Ayaka quietly said to herself, not knowing Akane heard her. She turned and walked away, deep in thought, and left the sex talk with her mother. She had more important things to research.

Later that night, Kogami called Akane.

“Inspector Tsunemori here.” She answered like normal.

“Hey you.”

“Oh. Hey.” Akane answered, looking around to make sure that the kids were sound asleep. She quietly slipped out of the room so she and her former subordinate could speak more freely.

“What are you wearing?” Kogami joked, causing Akane to laugh.

“I miss that laugh.” His gruff voice spoke on the other end of their connection.

“We all miss you…” Akane whispered.

There was a long silence before Kogami spoke again.

“So… How are the kids?”

“We had quite an interesting conversation tonight, actually.” Akane chuckled to herself, going back to what her daughter had said.

“Oh? What about?”

“Well, our son asked about babies being made.”

“No way!” Kogami laughed. “What did you say?”

“I didn’t have time to really say anything. Aya started talking about sex.”

“… What?”

“She said that she had heard Shion talking about us having sex. So she had done research and asked Gino, who gave her an answer she wouldn’t accept.” Akane explained.

“And…?”

“She asked an older friend at school, who happened to have pictures.”

“Ugh. Oh god.” Kogami sighed. “So, what did you do?”

“I asked her about it… And all she really knows is that you get naked and wrestle around.”

Kogami began to laugh. “I was afraid you were going to say that she actually knew what an org-“

“Kogami!” Akane cut him off.

“Yeah, yeah.” He snickered. “You were saying.”

“Anyway… I think we have a future inspector on our hands.”

“Oh really?”

“She’s as relentless as you. She won’t stop looking until she gets an answer.”

“That sounds like you. You found me, didn’t you?”

“Yeah… I guess so.”

“Don’t give me all of the credit, Akane. You’re doing such a damn good job raising our kids.” Kogami reassured her. “I promise I will find my way around the System so I can be with you. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“I have to go now. I’ll talk to you soon. Don’t go wrestling naked men unless they’re me, Inspector.” He chuckled.

“Very funny.” Akane rolled her eyes.

“Hey… It’s midnight.” Kogami noted. “We get to see each other sooner this year, so try to hold on a little longer.”

“You’re right.” Akane smiled to herself. “Happy new year, Shinya.”

“Happy new year, Akane.”

(A/N: Shoot me. I’m terrible!!)

An Analysis of ShinKane in Psycho-Pass: The Movie

After streaming through Psycho Pass S1 and Psycho Pass: The Movie, one cannot deny the fact that there most certainly is a relationship worth bringing up between Kogami Shinya and Tsunemori Akane, be it platonic or romantic. Although the author has explicitly said that their relationship is viewed more as one that is grounded by “trust that surpasses romantic love,” their dynamic throughout the series still makes the ship worth the emotional investment, or in fandom jargon: it has the potential to sail.

The interaction between Akane and Kogami in Psycho-Pass: The Movie basically supported, if not confirmed, our suspicion of a romance between the two. The main giveaway was their tension, and how they made the most out of their time together. At this point, Akane’s attachment to Kogami, more than that of seeking justice, is clear as day. She most certainly had intentions of meddling into the matters between the government and SEAUn, but needless to say, she also saw it as a leeway to “catch” Kogami. What I love about the movie is that “catch” could have meant two things – to catch a man who has gone to the other side of the law, or/and simply to see and talk to him after his long absence. Kogami was still the gentleman that he is when they met – recklessly putting his life on the line by shielding her from the drone’s wrath. I’d like to think that he knew it was Akane at the start of their spar, because for a second, you could see his face hit a realization.

I’d also like to think that if his encounter was really a threat, he would have done more. Akane was then firm with her resolve to arrest Kogami, but ended up teaming up with him. Perhaps she sensed, as philosophically close as they were, that Kogami was fighting against her supposed party, for greater and more rational reasons. It is important to note, that despite having been separated for quite some time, their trust is still bulletproof as ever. Not once have they thought that the other is with malicious intent.

The fan that I am, here are some notable scenes from the movie that screamed ShinKane:

1) Trust without hints of hesitation: he agreed to the team up without any question, saved her from the drone, drove her to their HQ, and lent her his military jacket to hide her involvement with the government.

2) She offers him her pack of Spinel. The over-thinkers that we females are, it would be nice to know what ran into his mind when he saw she had a pack of Spinel. The answers can go a lot of ways, but I love how it implies that she hasn’t forgotten him.

3) They both couldn’t sleep. We don’t exactly know the reason. Yes, it may be due to their predicament; sensing that something ominous was at bay, or perhaps because they had a lot of things in their mind that they wanted to say to each other, but assume that the other is asleep. As Kogami sensed her walk her way to the balcony, he followed soon after. Akane then started talking to him without even looking behind her, also sensing that he couldn’t get the sleep they both needed.

4) Akane’s opinion mattered to him. My favorite conversation between the two was when Akane compared and contrasted him to Makishima. It just means that all throughout the years of trying to understand him, she has come up with a moving analysis. I’d like to think that Kogami, in the momentary calm of the night, may have realized that Akane most certainly is one of the few people who knows him more than he may even know himself.

5) Parting ways. The first thought that crossed his mind was to make her escape. They were rather raw with their camaraderie here – Kogami tells her to escape and do her fair share of investigation, but really, it’s also because the HQ was going to be a warzone, and he wouldn’t want Akane killed in action. Better him than her, the martyr that he is. It’s almost as though the movie wanted us to feel like all these were more than just their superficial and dutiful intentions. I took the case to solve it but also to see you. You need to escape to investigate the chairman, and because it’s going to be dangerous here. Lastly, at that moment, it was as though Kogami sensed the reason for Akane’s strong disapproval of leaving without him and said “Don’t worry. Do you really think I’ll die that easily? If we both survive this, come try to catch me again.” Because it mattered to her that he would live. Moreover, the last statement played around with their cat and mouse game, be it with the intention of arresting him, or just simply seeing him. Kogami exhausted his reassurance in this scene, because he knew just how much Akane wanted him to stay alive.

6) Smile of relief. Following their last encounter and the dangers he put her into as she went back to Shamballa unattended by him, he smiles when he sees her alive and well. Even after being heavily tortured, it mattered to him that she stays alive as well.

7) Last look at each other. After Kogami fires a bullet to free her from her handcuffs and tells her to go after the Chairman, they paused for a glance at each other, almost as though they knew it would be their last encounter in who knows how long.

i finally remembered what I was gonna request for when they're open again: MC having to share a bed with the brothers, preferably more fluffy then spicy. I love your stuff!!

I haven’t seen a fluff request in my inbox for so long! Can’t wait!

Brothers Reaction to Sharing a Bed With MC

————————————

Lucifer

Surprisingly, he adores when you decide to hop on into his bed, uninvited and invited

He likes to wrap his arms around you and pull you tightly towards his body to warm you up, giving you a little squeeze to remind you he’s still there and he hasn’t received a kiss in a while

But he also likes to touch you with his cold feet just to hear you squeal and laugh

He’ll plant kisses on the back of your head and whisper sweet nothings to you whilst rubbing the back of your hand with his thumb

He will always give you more of the blanket

The only time he ever sleeps in is when you’re in his bed because he really likes to get that extra cuddle session in with you before he’s forced to start the day and deal with his brothers

Mammon

Makes a fuss when you decide to jump into his bed and for a while, he will just sit there awkwardly with his arm around you, looking over to smile at you

But after a very quick few minutes, he’ll be all up over you and being so so affectionate

His legs are wrapped around yours and his arms are tugging at your waist, allowing you to hear his heart beat in his chest

He does hog the blanket though, so it’s a constant battle for who gets to be warm that night

Turns you over to face him when he wants attention and pouts until you kiss all over his face and tell him how much you love him

He won’t let you leave the bed until noon because he wants to hold you for a little while longer without his brothers taking you for themselves

Leviathan

Will absolutely not let you in his bed and without a doubt starts complaining off the bat, but honestly, he really wants to cuddle

After you’ve made yourself comfy in his arms, so will he as he cuddles up to your side and asks for you to pet his head for a while

Entwines his fingers in yours and strokes your knuckles gently, giving your cheek a few kisses and smiling into your skin

You’ll be able to feel his hot cheeks as he nuzzled up to you; asking you if you’re comfortable every couple minutes

Rolls you over to face him so he can tell you he loves you to your face and smiling and blushing when you say it back

He’ll probably just keep you in his room for the rest of the day so he can hold you for longer and you two can share his little pile of food rations and binge anime

Satan

Always loves when you randomly join him in bed and it may very well be the only way to get him to put down a book

Pulls you on top of him immediately and places your head on his chest, stroking your hair slowly whilst you listen to his heart

He moves around a lot when he’s in bed but he generally tends to stay completely still whenever you’re sleeping on him so he won’t wake you up

Gives you forehead kisses and squeezes you tight, telling you he loves you a few times every few minutes

He has a habit of drawing little patterns on your back and humming to himself while he does it

Normally tries to get you out his room early so his brothers don’t cause a scene when they see you walk out of his room but sometimes he just likes to cuddle all day and hold you in his arms

Asmodeus

He always looks forward to the day you climb into his bed and cuddle up next to him

It’s his favourite thing as you move closer to kiss his cheek while he combs your hair with his fingers, giving you a little smirk as he pulls your head closer for another kiss

Always wraps his legs around yours so you two are extremely close and you can feel his hot breath against your skin and his soft snores when he sleeps

His feet are constantly warm actually and he likes to touch you with them to warm you up

Holds your head in the crook of his neck and hums to you whilst occasionally kissing your head

Doesn’t leave the bed early the next morning and doesn’t let you leave him either. He wants so much more love from you

Beelzebub

He has the biggest smile plastered on his face as you join him in bed, arms stretched open wide so he could hold you on his chest

Prefers to let you lay on his stomach because he wouldn’t want to roll onto you in his sleep and crush you

Has his arm firmly pressed to your lower back all night so you don’t fall off and squeezes you to tell you he wants a little bit of attention

Lots of kisses and I love you’s are given and he always loves when you kiss his head and cheeks

He stays awake most the night to make sure you’re comfortable though and that you won’t fall off of him or that he’s not just generally crushing you

You’re staying by his side the next morning, he wants to hold you for longer and he isn’t letting you leave him that soon

Belphegor

He’s always thrilled when you get into his bed with him, his arms quickly clasping around your stomach and pulling you ridiculously close

Slips his leg between yours and spoons you, hugging your waist tighter and tighter and kissing your nape sweetly

Has a thing of murmuring in his sleep about shit you’ll never hear him say when he’s awake so a few love confessions slip his lips throughout the night

He knows his feet are chilly and likes to purposely touch you with them to hear you squeal. He pretty much doesn’t let you actually sleep because he’s constantly tickling and teasing you

The bed sheets always, without a doubt, end up on the floor in the morning

You already knew you weren’t leaving that bed in the morning and you’re stuck there until the late afternoon, still tightly in Belphie’s grasp

This is your night tonight

Everything's gonna be alright.

I missed out on drawing something for Valentine's day but! today is my birthday, so here's something party-themed that took way too long to finish because I draw with the speed of ...snail. ✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧

Could you help this sad boi out? See reading all of these fanfics, I'm unsure to how Naru's Psychometry actually works. Some say he goes limp and he "dreams" the visions, some say he just closes his eyes and the visions appear very quickly. Does Naru's psychometry ever get detailed/explained in canon? Or if not, is there anything that alludes to how it *would* work? Thanks! m(_ _)m

I sure can! Naru’s psychometry gets explained in Vol 8 of the original novels. Later in the sequel novels, Naru actually uses his psychometry and we get to read all about it. The truth is, it varies and depends on how strong the emotion on an object is and how well Naru syncs with the subject. I talked a little about Naru’s psychometry in my post Possible Implications of Naru’s Vision of Gene, but I’ll go ahead and quote directly here for you as there is a bit more.

First, here in Vol 8, Chapter 12.4, Lin explains a little:

“Moreover, Naru is too capable. If the person he’s looking for is dead, it’s fine if he only sees it as mere information. But if the synchronization with the target is intense, he apparently experiences it as if it’s his own personal experience.”

Ayako and Masako looked back at me simultaneously.

“Mai had a dream like that once…”

Is it like that?

“Sometimes, in severe cases, he actually gets injured.”

“Injured?”

‘Yes,’ Lin-san nodded.

“When experiencing a vision, a severe bruise is produced in the same spot where the person he’s synchronizing with was injured and a strong paralysis develops… Therefore, Naru will not use psychometry unless the situation is serious. He sent back all the letters without opening them.”

-GH Vol 8: I Don’t Mind Evil Spirits! Part 2, Chapter 12.4

Here is Naru talking about syncing with Gene in Vol 8 Ch 13.4:

“Gene left for Japan and was about half-way through his scheduled stay. When I borrowed his clothes, I suddenly synced with him.”

“Synced?”

“To assimilate with the target person while using psychometry.”

“Like the dream I once had?”

“Right.”

I couldn’t stand experiencing that over and over again. I would certainly hate using psychometry.

“Suddenly? You didn’t do something trying to sync with him deliberately?”

“That kind of intention isn’t always necessary. Rejecting it requires will, however. ”

“Oh…”

“I think the first thing I saw was a mountain. On that mountain during the day as I was walking there on the road, I heard a car coming from behind. As I turned around, I could see the car that had rounded the curve drive farther and farther toward the outside. It raced straight towards me, then there was an impact and I collapsed. As I was lying on the asphalt, someone got out of the stopped car.”

“…Uh-huh.”

“It was a woman. I could only see her below the knee, though. She panicked and, after screaming, returned to her car. After a moment, I could hear the sound of the car moving and approaching me from behind…”

I choked back something bitter. If that’s the case, then that woman finished Gene off. Without a doubt… you could say he was murdered…

“From there on, the vision developed a green halation. That’s characteristic of when the target is dead. I was dragged along the ground and loaded into the trunk of the car. In a place somewhere like a garage, I was wrapped in a silver tarp. That was thrown into a lake from atop a boat—”

-GH Vol 8: I Don’t Mind Evil Spirits! Part 2, Chapter 13.4

And finally, here is his experience from Akumu no Sumu Ie, Ch 9.3:

Naru sat down on the floor and placed his back against the wall. He took several cards from inside the box. He concentrated his conscious onto his fingertips.

He quickly sensed an irregularity. There was no need to exert himself at all.

– Is that so.

Naru secretly felt sorry.

– The owner is a child.

It was easy to synchronize with a child. Moreover, very strong emotions were inscribed into it considering how easy it was to go in.

– This is… … bad.

Before he knew it, he was tormented by the feeling of rapidly falling down. It was the sensation of crashing down into a deep hole, while at the same time losing that feeling temporarily, and then randomly returning to it as if being inserted like a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. There was not even one time to take a single breath.

The first thing he saw was a faint light tinged with green. That color was, as if he was wearing a color filter, a color that’s characteristic of the deceased.

– This child is dead.

-The House in Which Nightmares Dwell Part 2, Ch 9.3 (translation by @yonakayaku​)

Actually, here’s a bit more of him coming out of his vision in Akumu Ch 9.5:

“– Naru!”

He opened his eyes and sensed the tatami mat below his cheek. His eyesight was blurry. He had a terrible headache.

“Are you alright?”

“Just barely made it…” he said to himself.

“– Naru?”

“… … I’m fine.”

There was a hand on his shoulder, but when the fingertips lightly lifted up it got the better of him. It felt like he could throw up if he moved his body right now.

“No need to worry. … … My body just got shocked somewhat.”

After blinking a couple of times and waiting for his vision to clear up, he moved. Lin’s worried face was nearby.

“Naru –?”

“A child was killed here.”

-The House in Which Nightmares Dwell Part 2, Ch 9.5 (translation by @yonakayaku​)

That’s everything I can think of about Naru’s psychometry at the moment. Oh wait, there’s some mention in a short story. Let me go grab that, too.

This is from Confessions for a White Crow:

“Right. He willingly played the part of the clown; as if entertaining at a party, he would make a gentleman’s lighter move, or reveal the romantic past hidden within a lady’s accessory. Half of it would be the truth, and half of it would be trickery or made-up nonsense. He would do things like that without a care. And so, he gathered together an incredible number of supporters, pulled money from them, and began an exasperating form of ghost hunting.”

-Confession for a White Crow (translation by @csakuras)

Also, I like this part about Eugene showing signs of psychometry, but it was actually Naru sending him info through their bond:

“Eugene had shown an ability similar to psychometry. But Eugene always said that his ‘neighbor from the other side of the door’ gave him the information. For close to two years, we did not know that this meant Oliver.”“This time you all became obsessed with Oliver.”“That’s right. A powerful Twin Channel existed between the twins. Oliver was an exceedingly capable psychometrist, and what’s more, possessed PK. His PK ability was extraordinary, and using the Twin Channel as an intermediary, functioned in a way so curious as to be unprecedented.”

-Confession for a White Crow (translation by @csakuras​)

Okay, that’s it. Basically, it depends. Sometimes it’s just impressions, other times it’s really intense visions. And sometimes it happens without choice. I hope this helps!

All-Star Moments in Space Communications and Navigation

How do we get information from missions exploring the cosmos back to humans on Earth? Our space communications and navigation networks – the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network – bring back science and exploration data daily.

Here are a few of our favorite moments from 2024.

1. Hip-Hop to Deep Space

The stars above and on Earth aligned as lyrics from the song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” by hip-hop artist Missy Elliott were beamed to Venus via NASA’s Deep Space Network. Using a 34-meter (112-foot) wide Deep Space Station 13 (DSS-13) radio dish antenna, located at the network’s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California, the song was sent at 10:05 a.m. PDT on Friday, July 12 and traveled about 158 million miles from Earth to Venus — the artist’s favorite planet. Coincidentally, the DSS-13 that sent the transmission is also nicknamed Venus!

NASA's PACE mission transmitting data to Earth through NASA's Near Space Network.

2. Lemme Upgrade You

Our Near Space Network, which supports communications for space-based missions within 1.2 million miles of Earth, is constantly enhancing its capabilities to support science and exploration missions. Last year, the network implemented DTN (Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking), which provides robust protection of data traveling from extreme distances. NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission is the first operational science mission to leverage the network’s DTN capabilities. Since PACE’s launch, over 17 million bundles of data have been transmitted by the satellite and received by the network’s ground station.

A collage of the pet photos sent over laser links from Earth to LCRD and finally to ILLUMA-T (Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal) on the International Space Station. Animals submitted include cats, dogs, birds, chickens, cows, snakes, and pigs.

3. Who Doesn’t Love Pets?

Last year, we transmitted hundreds of pet photos and videos to the International Space Station, showcasing how laser communications can send more data at once than traditional methods. Imagery of cherished pets gathered from NASA astronauts and agency employees flowed from the mission ops center to the optical ground stations and then to the in-space Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD), which relayed the signal to a payload on the space station. This activity demonstrated how laser communications and high-rate DTN can benefit human spaceflight missions.

4K video footage was routed from the PC-12 aircraft to an optical ground station in Cleveland. From there, it was sent over an Earth-based network to NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The signals were then sent to NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration spacecraft and relayed to the ILLUMA-T payload on the International Space Station.

4. Now Streaming

A team of engineers transmitted 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International Space Station and back using laser communication signals. Historically, we have relied on radio waves to send information to and from space. Laser communications use infrared light to transmit 10 to 100 times more data than radio frequency systems. The flight tests were part of an agency initiative to stream high-bandwidth video and other data from deep space, enabling future human missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

The Near Space Network provides missions within 1.2 million miles of Earth with communications and navigation services.

5. New Year, New Relationships

At the very end of 2024, the Near Space Network announced multiple contract awards to enhance the network’s services portfolio. The network, which uses a blend of government and commercial assets to get data to and from spacecraft, will be able to support more missions observing our Earth and exploring the cosmos. These commercial assets, alongside the existing network, will also play a critical role in our Artemis campaign, which calls for long-term exploration of the Moon.

On Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at 12:06 p.m. EDT, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

6. 3, 2, 1, Blast Off!

Together, the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network supported the launch of Europa Clipper. The Near Space Network provided communications and navigation services to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, which launched this Jupiter-bound mission into space! After vehicle separation, the Deep Space Network acquired Europa Clipper’s signal and began full mission support. This is another example of how these networks work together seamlessly to ensure critical mission success.

Engineer Adam Gannon works on the development of Cognitive Engine-1 in the Cognitive Communications Lab at NASA’s Glenn Research Center.

7. Make Way for Next-Gen Tech

Our Technology Education Satellite program organizes collaborative missions that pair university students with researchers to evaluate how new technologies work on small satellites, also known as CubeSats. In 2024, cognitive communications technology, designed to enable autonomous space communications systems, was successfully tested in space on the Technology Educational Satellite 11 mission. Autonomous systems use technology reactive to their environment to implement updates during a spaceflight mission without needing human interaction post-launch.

A first: All six radio frequency antennas at the Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex, part of NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), carried out a test to receive data from the agency’s Voyager 1 spacecraft at the same time.

8. Six Are Better Than One

On April 20, 2024, all six radio frequency antennas at the Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex, part of our Deep Space Network, carried out a test to receive data from the agency’s Voyager 1 spacecraft at the same time. Combining the antennas’ receiving power, or arraying, lets the network collect the very faint signals from faraway spacecraft.

Here’s to another year connecting Earth and space.  

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