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ESC Resources

NASA’s Exploration and Space Communications (ESC) resources page showcases features, web articles, technical papers, activities, and more.

Bringing Technology to Space

NASA’s Exploration and Space Communications (ESC) projects division provides full-coverage communications and navigation services, as well as cross-cutting technical expertise to move NASA into the future. These services are critical to returning ground-breaking scientific data to Earth where it can be used for the benefit of humanity.

Annual Reports
O2O
Near Space Network
Navigation
LCRD
Search and Rescue
LCRNS
TEMPO

Near Space Network Features

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA to Embrace Commercial Sector, Fly Out Legacy Relay Fleet 

October 24, 2024

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA's Near Space Network Enables PACE Climate Change Mission to 'Phone Home'

April 17, 2024

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Seeks Commercial Near Space Network Services | NASA

March 3, 2023

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-9 Reaches End of Mission

January 5, 2023

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Enables Future of Science Observation through Tri-band Antennas

December 19, 2022

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Working in Tandem: NASA’s Networks Empower Artemis I

August 24, 2022

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Selects Four Commercial Companies to Support Near Space Network

December 20, 2024

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA to Embrace Commercial Sector, Fly Out Legacy Relay Fleet 

October 16, 2024

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Seeks Commercial Near Space Network Services

March 3, 2023

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Enables Future of Science Observation through Tri-band Antennas

December 19, 2022

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Volunteers Worldwide to Track Lunar Journey of NASA’s Artemis I Mission

October 31, 2022

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Working in Tandem: NASA’s Networks Empower Artemis I

August 24, 2022

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

The International Space Station: 20 Years of Communications Excellence

November 6, 2020

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

How NASA Transmits Votes From the Space Station

November 2, 2020

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA to Commercialize Near-Earth Communications Services

October 26, 2020

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Space Communications: 7 Things You Need to Know

October 6, 2020

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Networks Empower Commercial Crew: Supporting 1st Commercial Launch of NASA Astronauts From U.S.

May 31, 2020

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

How Goddard Supports Commercial Crew and #LaunchAmerica

May 22, 2020

Near Space Network Technical Papers

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Battery Health Quantification for TDRS Spacecraft by Using Signature Discriminability Measurement

March 16, 2020

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Utilization of Unsupervised Anomalies Detector as a Tool for Managing the TDRS Constellation at GSFC

October 29, 2019

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Polar Coding For Forward Error Correction In Space Communications With LDPC Comparisons

October 24, 2019

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Near Earth Network (NEN) DVB-S2 Demonstration Testing for Enhancing Data Rates for CubeSat/SmallSat Missions

August 12, 2019

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Space Communications and Navigation

August 12, 2019

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Investigation into New Ground Based Communications Service Offerings in Response to SmallSat Trends

September 26, 2018

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Streamlining Ground Station Network Compatibility Test for Small Satellites

June 5, 2018

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Commissioning of NASA's 3rd Generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS KLM)

June 4, 2018

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Space Network Project Operations Management: Past, Present and Future for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Constellation

June 4, 2018

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA's Launch Communications Ground Segment for the 21st Century Florida Spaceport

June 4, 2018

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Space Mobile Network Concepts for Missions Beyond Low Earth Orbit

June 4, 2018

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Space Mobile Network (SMN) User Demonstration Satellite (SUDS) for a Practical On-Orbit Demonstration of User Initiated Services (UIS)

May 28, 2018

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Payload Performance of TDRS KL and Future Services

October 19, 2017

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Preliminary Results from a Model-Driven Architecture Methodology for Development of an Event-Driven Space Communications Service Concept

October 12, 2017

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Near Earth Network (NEN) Support for Lunar and L1/L2 CubeSats

July 18, 2017

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Advances in Ka-Band Communication System for CubeSats and SmallSats

August 26, 2016

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

An Optimum Space-to-Ground Communication Concept for CubeSat Platform Utilizing NASA Space Network and Near Earth Network

June 17, 2016

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

TDRSS Augmentation System for Satellites

May 16, 2016

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

NASA Near Earth Network (NEN) and Space Network (SN) CubeSat Communications

April 27, 2016

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Space Mobile Network: A Near Earth Communications and Navigation Architecture

March 5, 2016

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Applying a Space-Based Security Recovery Scheme for Critical Homeland Security Cyberinfrastructure Utilizing the NASA Tracking and Data Relay (TDRS) Based Space Network

December 31, 2015

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

X-Band CubeSat Communication System Demonstration

August 8, 2015

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Innovative Approach Enabled the Retirement of TDRS-1 Compliant with NASA Orbital Debris Requirements

August 25, 2013

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Attitude Control and Orbital Dynamics Challenges of Removing the First 3-Axis Stabilized Tracking and Data Relay Satellite from the Geosynchronous ARC

August 25, 2013

Near Space Network Downloads

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Exploration and Space Communications One Pager

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (3.14 MB)

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Near Space Network One Pager

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (2.16 MB)

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Near Space Operations Control Center One Pager

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (25.85 MB)

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Near Space Network Acronym Glossary

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (490.42 KB)

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Near Space Network Services Brochure

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (1.01 MB)

LCRD Features

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

NASA's Laser Relay System Sends Pet Imagery to, from Space Station

June 6, 2024

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

NASA’s Space Station Laser Comm Terminal Achieves First Link

December 13, 2023

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

NASA’s First Two-way End-to-End Laser Communications Relay System

October 25, 2023

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

NASA to Demonstrate Laser Communications from Space Station

August 28, 2023

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

NASA’s Laser Communications Relay: A Year of Experimentation

June 28, 2023

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

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

August 11, 2022

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

Laser Terminal Bound for Space Station Arrives at NASA Goddard for Testing

July 18, 2022

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Exploring Together, NASA and Industry Embrace Laser Communications

November 29, 2021

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

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

November 15, 2021

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Getting NASA Data to the Ground with Lasers

October 27, 2021

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

NASA Laser Communications Innovations: A Timeline

May 26, 2021

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Laser Communications: Empowering More Data Than Ever Before

May 12, 2021

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

New Ground Station Brings Laser Communications Closer To Reality

August 20, 2020

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

NASA’s Next Laser Communications Demo Installed, Integrated on Spacecraft

July 17, 2020

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Next-Generation NASA Earth-Orbiting Relay Satellites: Fusing Optical and Microwave Communications

March 9, 2018

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Mission Leaves Goddard Space Flight Center

February 3, 2020

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

NASA Laser Communication Payload Undergoing Integration and Testing

December 15, 2017

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

NASA Taking First Steps Toward High-speed Space ‘Internet’

March 22, 2017

LCRD Technical Papers

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Disruption Tolerant Networking to Demonstrate Internet in Space

July 16, 2018

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Update on NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Project

June 4, 2018

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Latest Changes to NASA's Laser Communication Relay Demonstration Project

March 2, 2018

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Experiment Program

October 18, 2017

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) Update and the Path Towards Optical Relay Operations

March 7, 2017

LCRD Downloads

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Fact Sheet – English

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (3.17 MB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Fact Sheet – Spanish

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (3.13 MB)

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

ILLUMA-T Fact Sheet

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (8.34 MB)

LCRNS Features

NASA Selects Lunar Relay Contractor for Near Space Network Services

September 17, 2024

LunaNet Interoperability Specification

February 8, 2023

LunaNet: Empowering Artemis with Communications and Navigation Interoperability

October 7, 2021

NASA Engineers Analyze Navigation Needs of Artemis Moon Missions

March 24, 2021

Artemis I: Demonstrating the Capabilities of NASA’s United Networks

October 8, 2020

Lunar and Lagrangian Point L1 L2 CubeSat Communication and Navigation Considerations

August 8, 2017

LCRNS Technical Papers

NASA’s Lunar Communications Relay and Navigation Systems (LCRNS)

May 30, 2025

Onboard Processing for LunaNet Data Services 

October 15, 2024

NASA Lunar Communications Relay and Navigation Systems (LCRNS) Reference Constellation 3.1

October 4, 2024

Testset for Cis-Lunar Communications and Navigation

October 4, 2024

Moon-to-Mars Architecture Definition Document (ESDMD-001)

April 1, 2023

LunaNet Interoperability Specification (LNIS V4)

December 14, 2022

Lunar Relay Services Requirements Document (SRD)

December 5, 2022

O2O Features

A visualization of the Orion spacecraft orbiting the Moon while utilizing a new cutting-edge technology, the Orion Artemis II Communications System (O2O).

NASA Laser Communications Terminal Delivered for Artemis II Moon Mission

June 13, 2023

A visualization of the Orion spacecraft orbiting the Moon while utilizing a new cutting-edge technology, the Orion Artemis II Communications System (O2O).

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

August 11, 2022

A visualization of the Orion spacecraft orbiting the Moon while utilizing a new cutting-edge technology, the Orion Artemis II Communications System (O2O).

I am Artemis: Steven Horowitz

September 29, 2021

O2O Technical Papers

A visualization of the Orion spacecraft orbiting the Moon while utilizing a new cutting-edge technology, the Orion Artemis II Communications System (O2O).

NASA's Next Generation ≥100 Gbps Optical Communications Relay

March 2, 2019

A visualization of the Orion spacecraft orbiting the Moon while utilizing a new cutting-edge technology, the Orion Artemis II Communications System (O2O).

Optical Communications Systems for NASA's Human Space Flight Missions

October 9, 2018

Navigation Features

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Delivers Hardware for Commercial Lunar Payload Mission | NASA

March 1, 2023

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Delivers First Flight Hardware to ESA for Lunar Pathfinder

December 2, 2022

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Mirrors on ESA Pathfinder to Empower Space Geodesy

July 7, 2022

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Mirrors on ESA Pathfinder to Enhance Lunar Navigation

July 7, 2022

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Moon Mission Set to Break Record in Navigation Signal Test

June 2, 2022

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Advancing Global Navigation Satellite System Capabilities

January 12, 2021

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Explores Upper Limits of Global Navigation Systems for Artemis

January 5, 2021

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Navigation Tech Shows Timing Really Is Everything

May 29, 2019

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Record-Breaking Satellite Advances NASA's Exploration of High-Altitude GPS

April 4, 2019

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

X-ray Navigation Considered for Possible CubeSat Mission; NASA Studies as a Technique for Human Exploration

May 3, 2018

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

NASA Tests Atomic Clock for Deep Space Navigation

February 6, 2018

Navigation Technical Papers

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Flexible Data and Frame Synchronization Structure for the LunaNet PNT Signal

April 17, 2024

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

New Frontiers in Space Use of GNSS: Moon and Beyond

September 12, 2019

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

GPS Based Autonomous Navigation Study for the Lunar Gateway

April 11, 2019

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Space User Visibility Benefits of the Multi-GNSS Space Service Volume: An Internationally-Coordinated, Global and Mission-Specific Analysis

October 25, 2018

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

The Multi-GNSS Space Service Volume

October 25, 2018

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Flight Dynamics Commissioning Results and Experiences

October 9, 2018

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

GPS Operations in High Earth Orbit: Recent Experiences and Future Opportunities

June 4, 2018

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Exploring the Limits of High Altitude GPS for Future Lunar Missions

February 15, 2018

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Sextant X-Ray Pulsar Navigation Demonstration: Initial On-Orbit Results

February 15, 2018

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Navigation Architecture for a Space Mobile Network

February 9, 2016

Navigation Downloads

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Autonomous Navigation, Guidance, and Control One Pager

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (15.71 MB)

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

LuGRE One Pager

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (739.20 KB)

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

Advancing Space Use of GNSS to Cislunar Space
and Beyond

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (3.74 MB)

Artistic rendering of LuGRE and the GNSS constellations. In reality, the Earth-based GNSS constellations take up less than 10 degrees in the sky, as seen from the Moon.

GPS Antenna Characterization Experiment Data
for Download

Sep 5, 2025

ZIP (8.52 MB)

Illustration of a small lander on the surface of the Moon, with Earth visible in the distance, surrounded by a series of rings and loops representing a network of communication satellites.

The GNSS Frontier: Advancing Space Use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (10.30 MB)

Search and Rescue Features

International Search and Rescue System

NASA Search and Rescue Technology Saves Explorers, Enables Exploration

January 30, 2024

International Search and Rescue System

NASA Search and Rescue Team Prepares for Safe Return of Artemis II Crew

August 7, 2023

International Search and Rescue System

NASA Search and Rescue: Saving Earth-based Explorers and Enabling Exploration

January 23, 2023

International Search and Rescue System

NASA Emergency Beacons Save Lives in 2021

January 21, 2022

International Search and Rescue System

NASA Search and Rescue Partners With Australian Space Research Center, SmartSat CRC

September 8, 2020

International Search and Rescue System

NASA Develops Second-Generation Search and Rescue Beacon Technology

December 2, 2019

International Search and Rescue System

Weather Satellites Aid Search and Rescue Capabilities

March 7, 2018

International Search and Rescue System

NASA Lab’s Life-Saving Work

May 22, 2017

Search and Rescue Technical Papers

International Search and Rescue System

Taking the Search Out of Search and Rescue: How NASA Is Improving Finding People in Distress

July 23, 2019

International Search and Rescue System

Emergency Locator Transmitter Survivability and Reliability Study

February 1, 2017

Search and Rescue Downloads

International Search and Rescue System

Search and Rescue (SAR) One Pager

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (81.08 MB)

International Search and Rescue System

Search and Rescue Lithograph

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (3.57 MB)

TEMPO Features

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth

NASA Terminal Transmits First Laser Communications Uplink to Space

October 9, 2024

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth

NASA’s Record-Breaking Laser Demo Completes Mission

September 25, 2024

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth

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

May 24, 2022

The earth's edge at the bottom, with a satellite in the foreground. A red beam goes from the satellite to a pop-out of a telescope over the Earth.

Exploring Together, NASA and Industry Embrace Laser Communications

November 29, 2021

The earth's edge at the bottom, with a satellite in the foreground. A red beam goes from the satellite to a pop-out of a telescope over the Earth.

NASA Interns Extending Internetworking Off-World

December 2, 2020

TEMPO Technical Papers

The earth's edge at the bottom, with a satellite in the foreground. A red beam goes from the satellite to a pop-out of a telescope over the Earth.

LunaNet: a Flexible and Extensible Lunar Exploration Communications and Navigation Infrastructure

March 9, 2020

The earth's edge at the bottom, with a satellite in the foreground. A red beam goes from the satellite to a pop-out of a telescope over the Earth.

Optical Communications Feasibility Study for Science Mission Located at Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L2

October 21, 2019

The earth's edge at the bottom, with a satellite in the foreground. A red beam goes from the satellite to a pop-out of a telescope over the Earth.

Securing and Auto-Synchronizing Communication over Free-Space Optics Using Quantum Key Distribution and Chaotic Systems

January 22, 2019

Downloads

The earth's edge at the bottom, with a satellite in the foreground. A red beam goes from the satellite to a pop-out of a telescope over the Earth.

TEMPO One Pager

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (3.66 MB)

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth

TBIRD Fact Sheet

Sep 5, 2025

PDF (808.53 KB)

SIGNAL: The SCaN Internship Journal

SIGNAL: Summer 2024

Sep 8, 2025

PDF (10.00 MB)

SIGNAL: Summer 2023

Sep 8, 2025

PDF (10.59 MB)

SIGNAL: Summer 2022

Sep 8, 2025

PDF (9.80 MB)

SIGNAL: Summer 2021

Sep 8, 2025

PDF (144.41 MB)

SIGNAL: Summer 2020

Sep 8, 2025

PDF (5.99 MB)

Engagement Features

The lunar eclipse, also known as the Blood Moon, is pictured just above Earth's horizon from the International Space Station as it orbited 266 miles above the South Pacific Ocean.

Education and Outreach at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

May 28, 2018

ESC Engagement Downloads

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Space Communications Flashcards

Sep 10, 2025

PDF (9.20 MB)

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Near Space Network Direct-to-Earth Coloring Sheet

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (364.17 KB)

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Near Space Network Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Coloring Sheet

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (1.08 MB)

Graphic rendering the Moon in the foreground, Earth partially visible behind it, and Mars is in the far background. Near Space Network functionality is visualized by a satellite orbiting the Moon connecting to a rover and a halo of interconnecting network lines around Earth. Within the grid, green lines represent Earth-orbiting communications satellites connecting to each other and the Earth's surface.

Near Space Network Space Relay Coloring Sheet

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (271.26 KB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

Laser Communications Fun Facts

Sep 10, 2025

PDF (1.13 MB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Coloring Pages – English

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (963.26 KB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Coloring Pages – Spanish

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (924.24 KB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Poster – English

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (9.14 MB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Poster – Spanish

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (9.87 MB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Bookmark – English

Sep 10, 2025

PDF (680.55 KB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Bookmark – Spanish

Sep 10, 2025

PDF (1.41 MB)

LCRD communicating over laser links to the International Space Station and Earth.

LCRD Virtual Background

Sep 10, 2025

JPEG (147.23 KB)

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

ILLUMA-T Coloring Sheets

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (366.20 KB)

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

ILLUMA-T Poster

Sep 5, 2025

JPEG (1.90 MB)

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

ILLUMA-T Bookmark

Sep 10, 2025

PDF (347.97 KB)

NASA’s ILLUMA-T payload communicating with LCRD over laser signals

ILLUMA-T Virtual Background

Sep 9, 2025

JPEG (105.97 KB)

International Search and Rescue System

Search and Rescue Coloring Book

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (15.52 MB)

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth

TBIRD Postcard

Sep 9, 2025

PDF (7.55 MB)

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth

TBIRD Bookmark

Sep 10, 2025

PDF (320.57 KB)

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth

TBIRD Virtual Background

Sep 9, 2025

JPEG (56.67 KB)

TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth

TBIRD Poster

Sep 10, 2025

PDF (7.55 MB)

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA

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