NASA is gearing as much as exhibit the potential of laser communications for area missions with the ILLUMA-T (Built-in Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Low Earth Orbit Person Modem and Amplifier Terminal).
Scheduled to be launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in early November, the ILLUMA-T venture will full NASA’s first bi-directional, end-to-end laser communications relay on the Worldwide Area Station (ISS).
Payloads working collectively
Managed by NASA’s Area Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, the venture will function in tandem with the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) launched in December 2021.
LCRD, positioned in geosynchronous orbit, conducts experiments to check the consequences of atmospheric situations on laser alerts, take a look at community capabilities, and enhance navigation capabilities.
