Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD)

The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration payload is attached to the LCRD Support Assembly Flight (LSAF), which can be seen in this image. The LSAF serves as the backbone for the LCRD components. Attached to the LSAF are the two optical modules, which generate the infrared lasers that transmit data to and from Earth. A star tracker is also attached here. These components are visible on the left side of this image. Other LCRD components, such as the modems that encode data into laser signals, are attached to the back of the LSAF. Credits: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration payload is attached to the LCRD Support Assembly Flight (LSAF), which can be seen in this image. The LSAF serves as the backbone for the LCRD components. Attached to the LSAF are the two optical modules, which generate the infrared lasers that transmit data to and from Earth. A star tracker is also attached here. These components are visible on the left side of this image. Other LCRD components, such as the modems that encode data into laser signals, are attached to the back of the LSAF. Credits: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) aims to showcase the unique capabilities of optical communications. Currently, most NASA missions use radio frequency communications to send data to and from spacecraft. Radio waves have been used in space communications since the beginning of space exploration and have a proven track record of success. However, as space missions generate and collect more data, the need for enhanced communications capabilities becomes paramount.

Optical communications is one of these enhancements and will provide significant benefits for missions, including bandwidth increases of 10 to 100 times more than radio frequency systems. Additionally, optical communications provides decreased size, weight, and power requirements. A smaller size means more room for science instruments. Less weight means a less expensive launch. Less power means less drain on the spacecraft’s batteries. With optical communications supplementing radio, missions will have unparalleled communications capabilities.

The LCRD payload is hosted aboard the U.S. Department of Defense’s Space Test Program Satellite 6 (STPSat-6). After launch Dec. 7, 2021, engineers at LCRD’s mission operations center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, turned the payload on and prepared it to start transmitting data over infrared lasers. Until its first user is launched, LCRD will practice sending test data to and from its ground stations. This test data will be sent up through radio frequency signals from the mission operations center and then the LCRD spacecraft will reply over optical signals. This test data will include spacecraft health data; tracking, telemetry, and command data; and sample user data to ensure LCRD is properly operating…

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