NASA has successfully transmitted its first laser communications uplink to space using the Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT). This innovative ground station, built with modified commercial hardware, connected with the TBIRD (TeraByte Infrared Delivery) payload, which is about the size of a tissue box and was previously in low Earth orbit.
On Wednesday, Korine Powers published a piece related to the news on the NASA website.
During the initial live test, LCOT emitted a powerful laser signal that allowed TBIRD to detect the beacon, establish a connection, and maintain it for over three minutes. Achieving this connection required remarkable precision—one milliradian of pointing accuracy, akin to hitting a three-foot target from more than eight American football fields away.
This test is part of TBIRD's impressive two-year mission, which concluded on September 15, 2024. During its operation, TBIRD set a record by transmitting data at a rate of 200 gigabits per second. The three-minute connection with LCOT could return over five terabytes of vital scientific data in a single pass—equivalent to more than 2,500 hours of high-definition video. This capability illustrates how laser communications can support science missions venturing further into space.
NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program is integrating laser technology into various missions, including the upcoming Artemis II mission. "Optical communications can transfer 10 to 100 times more data than traditional radio waves," said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator and SCaN program manager. "This technology is the wave of the future, enabling scientists to gather more data and serving as a vital link for astronauts traveling to Mars."
Traditionally, space missions relied on radio frequencies for data transmission. However, as scientific instruments collect increasing amounts of data, the demand for communication capacity has grown. Laser communications use infrared light, allowing data to be transmitted at shorter wavelengths, which means ground stations can handle significantly more data per second.
The LCOT team is actively refining its pointing capabilities through further tests with NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD). These efforts aim to enhance connectivity and accessibility, showcasing how laser communications could revolutionize data access for scientists studying Earth, our solar system, and beyond. "It’s a testament to the skill of the entire team," said Dr. Haleh Safavi, project lead for LCOT. "We work with complex transmission equipment that requires incredible precision."
Experiments like TBIRD and LCRD are just two examples of SCaN’s ongoing efforts to demonstrate laser communications in space. A robust network depends on adaptable ground stations, and LCOT exemplifies how both government and the aerospace industry can develop flexible solutions to meet NASA’s diverse communication needs.
