NASA launching new laser communication system

NASA will be launching a new laser technology that will allow communication between the ground and an orbiting spacecraft

[SteveMackeAdvent]

the alignment of the link is interesting as I worked with infrared technology and the connectivity issues are a real challenge - not only link acquisition but maintaining link connectivity with a moving object is not a trivial tash

[SteveMackeAdvent]

if you are using infrared spectrum then you have to contend with atmospheric loss once and from my experience the absorption loss will attenuate relatively fast and if there are adverse weather conditions like clouds or rain or fog then the scattering and absorption become a significant barrier to a reliable communications path. So now you have to deliver enough power to the laser that you have a possible weapon and that is on the downlink budget - the uplink budget is even more difficult to set up and maintain a reliable communications link - I believe that you have a monumental task and I wish you well your going to need a lot of good fortune to achieve this goal

[aleksionas]

- Mom, why one of my arms is darker than another? - Don't worry son, happens to all of us. They will figure out that laser communication systems pretty soon now.

[Wookietown]

Come on Jeffrey, new technology?? What about ORCA? What about TSAT? All the work done 15-18 years ago by Lincoln Labs, AFRL, SMC/Aerospace and the Boeing and NGST teams. All that investment and time, and I'm sure you have some engineers from those cancelled programs on your team. You can't give a little credit to the giants whose shoulders you are standing on??

[mike]

Cool, then it'll take less than 3 seconds for laser communication to reach Earth from Mars when the two planets are closest. But quantum entanglement could allow for instant communication. That'll be next..