NASA uses lasers to transmit data to a moon satellite

NASA recently reported that it has successfully carried out data transmission from the laser to the Moon at a speed of 622Mbps at a distance of 384,630km.

Photo: topsecretwriters.com

This is a record fast pace for such a long distance and it was made possible by the two-way Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLDC) system that NASA had revealed in August this year. It is known that the laser signal was transmitted from a ground station in New Mexico State, and downloaded by a satellite that explored the moon's atmosphere and dust environment (LADEE) around the moon. The US space agency also confirmed that it was able to upload data to LADEE without errors at 20Mbps.

Laser has long been proven to be capable of transmitting huge amounts of data in fiber optic cables. Engineers believe that if they can be used in space communications, lasers will deliver a transfer rate of 622Mb of data per second (622Mbps). Another advantage of lasers is that it uses a much smaller wavelength than radio waves that are being used to communicate from Earth to space. Smaller laser heads and receivers will save more manufacturing costs. In addition, the narrowness of the laser beam also provides security for communication.

In fact, the main task of LADEE is not to test the download and upload speed with the LLDC system, but instead to investigate the nearly nonexistent atmosphere of the Moon and the "flying" dust layer on the surface. Moon face by static charges. Anyway, achieving such a high speed will help satellite send more high quality 3D images and videos for research. NASA further revealed that they are "on the right track in integrating this new capability into agency campaigns". LLDC is a small part of the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) program scheduled to be launched in 2017.