The initial breakthrough in this field occurred in the spring of the previous year when we became aware of a technology known as TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD). Deployed alongside the Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator 3 (PTD-3) satellite in 2022, it achieved an unprecedented data rate of 200 gigabits per second using optical communications technology.
In August 2022, the United States space agency unveiled a new device called the Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T). This hardware was transported to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the 29th SpaceX resupply mission, with the purpose of transmitting high-resolution data, such as images and videos, at a rate of 1.2 gigabits per second to the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) satellite.
Following this, the data would then be relayed to receivers in Hawaii and California, marking the inaugural operation of America’s first comprehensive laser relay system. However, as of now, it remains unclear whether the test has been completed.
Lastly, in late 2023, news emerged of a third system undergoing testing. This system, known as Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC), has been integrated into the Psyche spacecraft. DSOC successfully projected a laser beam towards Earth from a distance of 10 million miles (16 million km), which was captured by a receiver at the Caltech Palomar Observatory in San Diego, California.
All of these laser communication tests are driven by the increasing complexity of future space missions. As we venture further into space, the need for faster and more efficient communication technology becomes paramount.
Currently, humanity’s space exploration endeavors heavily rely on radio technology for spacecraft communication. While this system has proven its reliability over the years, it is hindered by two significant limitations: its relatively slow speed and limited data transmission capacity.
For example, if we were to transmit a basic map of Mars using radio frequency technology, it would take approximately nine weeks for the complete data transfer. In contrast, a laser system could accomplish the same task in just nine days.
This is due to the fact that lasers enable a higher volume of information to be encoded into narrower waves, allowing receivers to obtain more data in a single transmission. Theoretically, lasers have the potential to be ten to 100 times more efficient than our current radio systems.
Taking this into consideration, NASA announced in January its endorsement of a new optical communications technology developed by Fibertek, known as the Basestation Optical Laser Terminal. This four-channel laser unit may undergo testing during the Artemis II mission.
Scheduled to depart Earth in 2025 and carry a crew of four individuals on a journey around the Moon, Artemis II has a strong chance of utilizing the Basestation as a testing tool, enabling “high-power communications to the Moon” throughout the flight.
Image: NASA
The hardware is designed to facilitate communication between the Orion spacecraft and Earth through the use of lasers, and it is part of a larger system known as the Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT). The term “low-cost” is attributed to the fact that it was constructed using commercially available components.
The LCOT is essentially a ground-based telescope with a diameter of 27 inches (69 cm), located at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. If everything aligns perfectly, it will receive high-resolution images and videos of the Moon transmitted by the crew of Artemis II.
In addition, NASA plans to establish optical communications with the assistance of two other ground stations situated in White Sands, New Mexico, and Table Mountain, California.
Regarding the LCOT, it, along with the included Basestation, are currently in the pre-prototype stage. They are funded through the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program of the agency, and have the potential to serve as a model for future ground stations.
We will closely monitor any further advancements in this area because it is evident that NASA is heavily relying on lasers to enhance the extent and capabilities of its future missions. And, of course, because we all have a fondness for lasers, particularly when they are mounted on spaceships traversing the vast expanse of space.
According to the Source autoevolution.com