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As science instruments evolve to capture high-definition data like 4K video, missions will need expedited ways to transmit information to Earth. With laser communications, NASA can significantly accelerate the data transfer process and empower more discoveries. Optical, or laser, communications will enable 10 to 100 times more data transmitted back to Earth than current radio frequency systems.

Quick Facts

Optical communications systems are ideal for missions because they need less volume, weight, and power. Less mass means more room for science instruments, and less power means less of a drain of spacecraft power systems.

Optical communications systems are ideal for missions because they need less volume, weight, and power. Less mass means more room for science instruments, and less power means less of a drain of spacecraft power systems.

It would take roughly nine weeks to transmit a complete map of Mars back to Earth with current radio frequency systems. With lasers, it would take about nine days.

It would take roughly nine weeks to transmit a complete map of Mars back to Earth with current radio frequency systems. With lasers, it would take about nine days.

Infrared light packs data into significantly tighter waves, meaning ground stations can receive more data at once.

Infrared light packs data into significantly tighter waves, meaning ground stations can receive more data at once.

Although optical communications systems reduce size, weight, and power requirements, the entire Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) payload is actually the size of a standard king-sized mattress!

Although optical communications systems reduce size, weight, and power requirements, the entire Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) payload is actually the size of a standard king-sized mattress!

Orion orbiting the Moon with a laser linking back to Earth — NASA’s O2O terminal demonstrating the benefits of laser communications on Artemis II.
NASA / Dave Ryan

LCRD communicating to ISS over laser links — LCRD communicating over laser links to ILLUMA-T on the International Space Station.
NASA / Dave Ryan

NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration instrument. — NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration instrument.
NASA

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches on the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program 3 (STP-3) mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. — A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches on the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program 3 (STP-3) mission from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission’s Space Test Program Satellite-6 (STPSat-6) spacecraft hosts NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and the NASA-U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Ultraviolet Spectro-Coronagraph (UVSC) Pathfinder.
NASA/Joel Kowsky

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches on the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program 3 (STP-3) mission from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. — A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches on the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program 3 (STP-3) mission from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission’s Space Test Program Satellite-6 (STPSat-6) spacecraft hosts NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and the NASA-U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Ultraviolet Spectro-Coronagraph (UVSC) Pathfinder.
NASA/Joel Kowsky

ILLUMA-T and LCRD communicating over red laser links. — LCRD communicating with ILLUMA-T over laser links.
NASA / Dave Ryan

NASA's ILLUMA-T payload in final assembly and testing at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. — NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload in a Goddard Space Flight Center cleanroom undergoing integration and testing.
NASA

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth — TBIRD downlinking data to Earth from low-Earth orbit
NASA / Dave Ryan

The completed TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory. — The completed TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory

Why Optical?

With optical communications, NASA can significantly accelerate the data transfer process and empower more discoveries.

Since the beginning of spaceflight in the 1950s, NASA missions have leveraged radio frequency communications to send data to and from space. Optical communications, also known as laser communications, will further empower missions with unprecedented data capabilities.

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

Graphic representation of the difference in data rates between radio and optical communications.

NASA

Featured News

More Optical News

What’s Next: The Future of NASA’s Laser Communications

CubeSat Set to Demonstrate NASA’s Fastest Laser Link from Space

Exploring Together, NASA and Industry Embrace Laser Communications

6 Things You Need to Know about NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration

Getting NASA Data to the Ground with Lasers

NASA Laser Communications Innovations: A Timeline

Laser Communications: Empowering More Data Than Ever Before

New Ground Station Brings Laser Communications Closer To Reality

Laser Communications Relay Demonstration

NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) is demonstrating NASA's first two-way laser relay communications system, sending and receiving data over invisible infrared lasers from its location in geosynchronous orbit with ground stations in California and Hawaii.

LCRD communicating to ISS over laser links

Related Missions

Explore missions related to laser communications.

All NASA Galleries

Orion orbiting the Moon with a laser linking back to Earth

Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O)

O2O will leverage laser communications on the Orion spacecraft, enabling live, ultra-high-definition video feeds between astronauts and Earth.

ILLUMA-T and LCRD communicating over red laser links.

Integrated LCRD Low-Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T)

ILLUMA-T will be LCRD's first user and bring laser capabilities to the International Space Station.

The completed TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory.

TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD)

TBIRD is demonstrating a direct-to-Earth laser communications link from a CubeSat in low-Earth orbit.

LCRD communicating to ISS over laser links

Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD)

Launched on December 7, 2021, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) aims to showcase the unique capabilities of optical communications.

DSOC Package on Psyche spacecraft.

Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC)

The DSOC package will be aboard NASA's Psyche mission and utilizes photons to transmit more data in a given amount of time.

The International Space Station

Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS)

OPALS is a technology demonstration aboard the International Space Station designed to test the use of focused laser energy for space communications.

Laser information transmission between Earth and space vehicle.

Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD)

From October 2013 through April 2014, LLCD demonstration laser communications during the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission.

OCSD Integration

Optical Communications and Sensor Demonstration (OCSD)

OCSD, consisting of three CubeSats launched in 2017, conducted the first-ever high-speed laser communications downlink from a CubeSat to a ground station.

Featured Story

What’s Next: The Future of NASA’s Laser Communications

NASA uses lasers to send information to and from Earth, employing invisible beams to traverse the skies, sending terabytes of…

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