NASA is preparing to introduce the first orbital users to its laser-based, high-speed space internet. The agency plans to send its Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) to the International Space Station (ISS) on SpaceX’s 29th Commercial Resupply Services mission. Once delivered to the ISS, ILLUMA-T will communicate with NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) satellite, which will then relay data to ground stations in Hawaii and California.
The ILLUMA-T terminal will transmit high-resolution data, such as pictures and videos, to the LCRD at a rate of 1.2 gigabits-per-second. This demonstration aims to showcase the potential benefits of laser communications for missions in low Earth orbit. While uploads from the LCRD to the ISS will only be at a speed of 52 megabits-per-second, it is still sufficient to stream a 4K movie from space.
NASA sees laser communications as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, traditional radio frequency systems. Laser communications offer significantly faster speeds, with infrared laser systems providing 10 to 100 times the speed of radio frequency systems. Additionally, laser communications equipment is smaller, lighter, and consumes less power compared to radio equipment, allowing for more scientific equipment to be carried on missions.
The LCRD, which will work in conjunction with ILLUMA-T, has been testing laser communications for the past two years by establishing links between its base stations and the geosynchronous satellite. First light, marking the initial laser signal link between ILLUMA-T and LCRD, is anticipated to occur approximately two months after launch and installation on the ISS.
NASA has other optical data transmission experiments planned, including the TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) system, which achieved speeds of 200 gigabits-per-second, and the Deep Space Optical Communication system, set to be tested on the Psyche mission. The Artemis II mission, which aims to bring humans back to the Moon’s orbit, will also utilize an optical communication system for faster transmission of high-definition images and data.
If all goes according to plan, ILLUMA-T will be delivered to the ISS in early November, becoming an operational asset following the six-month experimental phase.
Sources:
– NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) Satellite
– Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T)
– TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) System
– Deep Space Optical Communication System
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