LADEE orbited the Moon to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface, and environmental influences on lunar dust. As a technology demonstration, LADEE carried the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD). LLCD used lasers instead of radio waves to transmit data to earth at broadband speed.
Mission Duration: September 2013 – April 2014Operating Network: Deep Space Network, Near Earth Network, Space Network*
› Deep Space Network (DSN)› Near Space Network (NSN)› Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE)› Historical Missions Supported by SCaN
* Editor’s Note: As of October 2020, the Near Earth Network and the Space Network have aggregated into the Near Space Network.