NASA develops 100 times faster communication technology in the universe

The first equipment is expected to be deployed on the International Space Station by 2020.

As we all know, transmitting information over long distances in the universe is a huge challenge. Currently, most technologies do this based on radio waves.

Used since 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik's first artificial satellite, radio communication has revealed many limitations. Recognizing this long ago, NASA has focused on studying new light-based communications devices.

Their latest project in this area is Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD). In particular, a large number of scientists focus on finding ways to develop laser communication technology. NASA promises it to be faster than using radio waves 10 to 100 times. The first equipment is expected to be deployed on the International Space Station (ISS) by 2020.

Technology simulation in LCRD project.

This is not the first time NASA has tested space telecommunications technology using lasers instead of radio signals. In 2013, the US Aerospace Agency also reached a record speed in data communication with Moon satellites with this technology.

NASA contacted LADEE, the moon's satellite and atmospheric research moon, at 622 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.

However, the LCRD project is really new. This is the first time they have used an advanced photonic integrated modem dubbed ILLUMA . The device is only about the size of a mobile phone, much smaller than the optical receivers used in today's spacecraft. To achieve this, NASA tried to program many functions running on a single IC.

" The photonic integrated circuit is an integrated circuit like normal, except that it uses light, instead of electrons, to perform optical functions," said Don Cornwell, director of Telecommunications. and NASA's advanced positioning said.

"This technology will be used for all NASA missions, not just LCRD projects."

It must be said that photonic circuits have long been included in the study. But being able to refine this technology to prevent speed congestion is still a major challenge. NASA, if it can do this, will open many very practical benefits.

It will be a smaller device with greater performance. In particular, like conventional electronic circuits, photonic circuits are feasible for mass production with photolithography technology.

Mike Krainak from NASA's Goddark Space Center.

"We have promoted the process of working for a long time," the head of ILLUMA project, Mike Krainak from Goddark Space Center, NASA said. "This technology will simplify the design of the optical system. It reduces size and energy consumption, while improving reliability. New functions can be implemented at lower costs."

Not only that, the new modem is not limited to applications for space telecommunications . This photonic technology can completely be developed to serve life from medical imaging diagnostics to Internet communications.

"Clearly, our strategy is to leverage photonic integrated circuits to revolutionize interplanetary communications," Krainak said. "However, basically what we do is provide a faster communication method."

According to Krainak, not only NASA, but the scientific community, Google and Facebook have begun to pay attention to this technology. When NASA or a research unit can achieve production costs smaller than fiber technology, all communication on Earth will work on it.