NASA Sets Record for Transmitting Data from the Moon Using a Laser

NASA recently announced it made history when it used a pulsed laser beam to transmit data across the 239,000 miles from the Moon to Earth at a record download rate of 622 megabits per second (Mbps).

The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) is NASA's first two-way communication system to swap out radio waves for a laser.

"The goal of LLCD is to validate and build confidence in this technology so that future missions will consider using it," Don Cornwell, LLCD manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement. "This unique ability developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory has incredible application possibilities."

The device also demonstrated a clean data upload rate of 20 Mbps transmitted from the primary ground station in New Mexico to the device orbiting the Moon.

Ever since NASA took to space it's relied on radio frequency (RF) communication. Decades later, RF is maxing out as data capacity demand continues to rise. Laser communications would allow the space agency to extend communication applications, increase image resolution and allow for 3D video transmission.

"LLCD is the first step on our roadmap toward building the next generation of space communication capability," said Badri Younes, NASA's deputy associate administrator for space communications and navigation (SCaN). "We are encouraged by the results of the demonstration to this point, and we are confident we are on the right path to introduce this new capability into operational service soon."

Hosted aboard NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer, LLCD is a short-term project and precursor to the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration, which is scheduled to launch in 2017.