Laser communications at NASA: the future

NASA uses lasers to send and receive data, sending terabytes of data-pictures and videos-to increase our understanding of the universe. Despite the fact that human eyes cannot see these eye-safe, infrared beams, laser communications are known as optical communications.

NASA Headquarters' deputy associate administrator and program manager for Space Communications and Navigation, Badri Younes, says laser communications offer remarkable promise in the next few years.

NASA's Decade of Light begins with these missions and demonstrations as NASA partners with other government agencies and the private sector to dramatically expand future communications capabilities for space exploration and create vibrant, robust economic opportunities.'

Approximately 22,000 miles from Earth, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration launched into orbit on Dec. 7, 2021 to demonstrate laser communication capabilities. The LCRD is the agency's first two-way laser relay technology demonstration. It is possible for NASA to continue its advancements in laser communications now that the LCRD is in orbit.

The LCRD was certified by NASA as experimental-ready in May 2022. As part of the mission's overall goal, these experiments are testing and refining laser systems.

Researchers from NASA, other government agencies, academia, and industry are testing on-orbit laser relay capabilities and measuring long-term effects of the atmosphere on laser communications signals.

Interested parties should contact Butler if they would like to conduct new experiments. As a result of these experiments, we will be able to show how optical communications will benefit international organizations, industry, and academia.'

NASA is accepting proposals for new experiments to improve optical technologies, increase knowledge, and identify future applications.

It will even relay New Year's resolutions shared with NASA social media accounts shortly after launch. As yet another demonstration of LCRD's capabilities, these resolutions will be transmitted from a ground station in California to another ground station in Hawaii.

As part of the Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator 3 mission, the TeraByte InfraRed Delivery payload launched from Cape Canaveral on May 25, 2022.Transporter-5 rides SpaceX's Space Force Station. NASA's TBIRD will feature data downlinks of 200 gigabits per second, the highest rate ever achieved.

As part of SpaceX's 27th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station in early 2023, the Integrated LCRD Low-Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal will launch in the Dragon trunk and provide astronauts with enhanced data capabilities in the orbiting laboratory.

A laser communications system called Orion Artemis II will be used aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft on the Artemis II mission to the Moon. It will be possible for astronauts to send high-resolution images and video for the first time in over 50 years when they return to the lunar region with O2O.

First crewed lunar mission Artemis II will demonstrate laser communications, sending data back to Earth at 260 megabits per second.

The infusion of optical systems will be integral to future NASA missions, whether they are near-Earth missions, missions to the Moon, or missions to deep space.

With laser communications' higher data rates, exploration and science missions can send more data back to Earth and learn more about the universe. Using images, videos, and experiments, NASA will be able to explore not just the near-Earth region, but also prepare for future missions to Mars and beyond.