NASA has completed its first laser communication via an orbiting laser repeater system , marking a major leap in space communication technology .
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The successful demonstration of two-way laser communication on December 5 between terminal lasers in different orbits could provide the basis for faster communications between Earth and the Moon or even beyond.
The experimental process took years to define. The ILLUMA-T payload of the Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal was delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) on November 9, carried aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, as part of NASA's 29th commercial servicing mission.
After installation at the Japanese Experiment Module-Exposed Facility, engineers conducted tests to ensure ILLUMA-T was operational. ILLUMA-T was then used to communicate with NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) satellite, which launched in 2021 and operates in high-geostationary orbit.
While the International Space Station is approximately 370-460 kilometers above Earth, the LCRD orbits 35,786 kilometers above the equator. This gap allows for a long-distance laser interaction communication test.
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Laser communications, also known as optical communications, use infrared light instead of traditional radio waves to send and receive signals. The much shorter infrared wavelengths of lasers allow for a much larger amount of information to be sent in each transmission compared to the longer wavelengths of radio waves.
Challenges include precisely aligning transmitters and receivers and manufacturing small, lightweight, and energy-efficient components for use in space.
ILLUMA-T and LCRD are part of NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program. The use of laser communication significantly increases the efficiency of data transfer and can lead to a faster pace of scientific discoveries, according to a NASA statement
“Laser communications will not only return more data from science missions, but can serve as a critical link for NASA to keep astronauts connected to Earth as they explore the Moon, Mars and beyond,” said Dr. Jason Mitchell, director of SCaN’s Advanced Communications and Navigation Technology Unit.
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“We are now conducting operational demonstrations and experiments that will allow us to optimize the integration of proven technology into our missions to enhance our exploration and science,” added David Israel, NASA’s space communications and navigation architect.
Source: space.com
