NASA uses lasers to communicate with the moon, breaks records

NASA has done it again. The space agency is breaking records and setting new standards in space travel and communication all the time. Over the weekend, NASA made history by using lasers to communicate and transport data to the moon.

NASA Laser Communication System. (Image via NASA)

The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) launched a pulsed laser beam that transmitted data over 239,000 miles between the moon and Earth at an amazing rate of 662 megabits per second.

The LLCD is the first ever system for two-way communication using lasers instead of radio waves. Since the first time NASA began space exploration, it has always used radio frequency communication, but times are changing and now, more data capacity is needed.

The lunar laser, developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers, hopped a ride aboard the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft which finally reached the moon’s orbit on October 6.

During the demonstration, light speed signals travelled from the spacecraft to a ground station in White Sands, NM, while the lasers were simultaneously being sent to the spacecraft from the ground station.

Why lasers?

Lasers allow for better communication capabilities like better image resolution. It even allows NASA to transmit 3D videos from deep space.

Laser created by MIT aboard the LADEE spacecraft, ready to communicate with Earth. (Image via NASA)

Although NASA uses RF as the most reliable means of space communications, the radio and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum are getting close to capacity. Lasers will enable researchers to work with unregulated and less crowded portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

“The goal of LLCD is to validate and build confidence in this technology so that future missions will consider using it,” said Don Cornwell, LLCD manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

LLCD is only the beginning. In 2017, NASA will launch a long-term demonstration, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LLRC).

Learn more about the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration.