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NASA is moving away from their version of dial-up (radio frequency-based communication), to their own version of high-speed Internet: optical communication. On the heels of LLCD, LCRD will demonstrate sustained optical communication links over a multi-year trial period, as NASA continues to develop optical communication satellites that will one day bring to life an entire satellite network that uses optical communication.


first step (done 2014): Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD)
http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/engineering/technology/txt_opticalcomm_start.html#.VPHcTGaoeHk

The LLCD demonstration consisted of a space terminal on the LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) spacecraft and three ground terminals on Earth. Together, they demonstrated that it was possible to transfer up to 622 Mbps of data from the Moon with a space terminal that weighs less, uses less power, and occupies less space than a comparable RF system. These first tests of the month-long demonstration have included the successful LLCD transmission, by pulsed laser beam, of two simultaneous channels carrying high-definition video streams to and from the moon. The tests also confirmed LLCD’s capability of providing continuous measurements of the distance from the Earth to the LADEE spacecraft with an unprecedented accuracy of less than half an inch. LLCD has also transmitted large data files from the LADEE spacecraft computer to Earth. “These first results have far exceeded our expectation,” said Cornwell. “Just imagine the ability to transmit huge amounts of data that would take days in a matter of minutes. We believe laser-based communications is the next paradigm shift in future space communications.”

LLCD Project Summary:

- High bandwidth, lunar orbit to Earth optical link
- Downlink: 40-622 Mbps; Uplink: 10-20 Mbps
- Ground stations: White Sands, NM; NASA JPL’s Table Mountain, CA; European Space Agency Tenerife, Spain (Canary Islands)
- Flight on LADEE spacecraft: October 2013 - April 2014

Technical file here:
http://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov/267/271/Space-Terminal.html

others Technologies onboard:
- Ultraviolet and Visible Light Spectrometer
- Neutral Mass Spectrometer
- Lunar Dust Experiment
- Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration

Future testing will include:
- how well the system operates in optically stressed conditions such as daytime (all operations have been at night)
- full moon verses new moon
- different pointing positions for the ground terminals.

Video 0:58 - 28 oct. 2013 - Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer
http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/historic-demonstration-proves-laser-communication-possible/#.VPHetGaoc7A

Firms involved in the LLCD Project:
Managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
LLCD system was designed, built and being operated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL) in Lexington, Mass
Spacecraft was built and operated by a team from NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.
Ground terminals have been provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., and ESA in Darmstadt, Germany.


second step (next): Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD)

SCaN is working on the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD). LCRD will be NASA's first long-period optical communications project that will demonstrate benefits for both deep space and near Earth missions. LCRD will also validate that advanced relay operations are possible and could be used for future relays, like on Mars.

Because weather-related clouds, gasses and particles scatter the near-infrared light of the laser beam and scramble transmissions, a network of ground stations is required to increase the availability of an optical communications link and to handle clouds covering an individual LLGTground terminal.

One option for a future laser communication system would be to place relay stations in orbit that could store the deluge of data beamed from distant spacecraft until the line-of-sight with the ground terminal opens up.

LCRD Project Summary:

- High bandwidth geo-sync to ground optical link
- Downlink: 1.2 Gbps; Uplink: 1.25 Gbps
- Host payload on Space Systems Loral (SSL) satellite - new paradigm for NASA
- Two ground stations
- Flight in 2018


- SCaN will introduce optical communications on an operational basis on the Next Generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) in the 2022 timeframe.

a bit more

December 2014 - scientific findings LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer)
http://www.nasa.gov/ames/ladee/ladee-project-scientist-update-december-2014/


mhhh.........stay tuned

Cheers