Page 24 - EngineerIt May 2021

SPACE SCIENCES

Laser communications: empowering

more data than ever before

Launching in June 2021, NASA’s laser communications relay demonstration (LCRD) will
showcase the dynamic powers of laser communications technologies. With NASA’s
ever-increasing human and robotic presence in space, missions can benefit from a
new way of “talking” with Earth.

ince the beginning of space flight in the 1950s, NASA missions have leveraged and less power means less of a drain of
radio frequency communications to send data to and from space. Laser space craft power systems. These are
Scommunications, also known as optical communications, will further empower all critically important considerations for
missions with unprecedented data capabilities. NASA when designing and developing
mission concepts.
Why lasers? “LCRD will demonstrate all of the
As science instruments evolve to capture high-definition data like 4K video, missions will advantages of using laser systems and
need expedited ways to transmit information to Earth. With laser communications, NASA allow us to learn how to use them best
can significantly accelerate the data transfer process and empower more discoveries. operationally,” said principal investigator
Laser communications will enable 10 to 100 times more data to be transmitted back to David Israel at NASA’s Goddard Space
Earth than current radio frequency systems. It would take roughly nine weeks to transmit a Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland. “With
complete map of Mars back to Earth with current radio frequency systems. With lasers, it this capability further proven, we can start
would take about nine days. to implement laser communications on
Additionally, laser communications systems are ideal for missions because they need more missions, making it a standardised
less volume, weight and power. Less mass means more room for science instruments, way to send and receive data.”

Graphic representation of the difference in data rates between radio and laser communications. Credits: NASA

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