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| The new technology could hold the key to future missions to Mars and beyond by nanosatelites. Image Courtesy:NASA |
The new technology could make ways to all new missions to Mars and beyond nanosatellites. Hoping to repeat what broadband did to internet, NASA plans to fly a laser communication system, making the way for HD live TV from Mars.
A few tests for optical communications have been done before, but nothing like the planned 3-yrs run of the Laser Communications relay demonstration mission, one trial run project out of the three selected by NASA this week.
The aim is to demonstrate how the system works so that the technology would be included on the next science rover.
In count of pace or rapidity, Optical communications system requires less transmitters making way for all kinds of new missions by nanosatellites.
The in-space region of the laser communications system will be Included in a satellite which is owned by Loral space and Communications of Palo alto, California which is a partner in the project. The target is to launch the spacecraft in about 4 yrs.
Adding to an existing ground station in California, two more optical communications grounds will be built.
Part of the project is to determine how communications are effected by Earth’s weather and other factors, including data storage in a satellite aboard in space, and relaying when there is a clear line of sight line of sight to a terminal. Engineers will also work on cutting of a transmission mid stream and picking it up on another ground station.
“We have to prove that there is technology, it works and it can be used both in space and on the ground.” Said James Reuther, manager in NASA‘s technology development department.
This project won the largest part of about $175 million. NASA plans to invest this in three technology trial runs, the other 2 projects are a deep space atomic clock, which can stand in as a celestial GPS navigation system, and a full size solar sail that can be used in place of spacecraft’s propulsion system.
The National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, among others is interested in solar sails as way to keep a long term guard in space to look for solar storms.
[Via: DiscoveryNews]
A few tests for optical communications have been done before, but nothing like the planned 3-yrs run of the Laser Communications relay demonstration mission, one trial run project out of the three selected by NASA this week.
The aim is to demonstrate how the system works so that the technology would be included on the next science rover.
In count of pace or rapidity, Optical communications system requires less transmitters making way for all kinds of new missions by nanosatellites.
The in-space region of the laser communications system will be Included in a satellite which is owned by Loral space and Communications of Palo alto, California which is a partner in the project. The target is to launch the spacecraft in about 4 yrs.
Adding to an existing ground station in California, two more optical communications grounds will be built.
Part of the project is to determine how communications are effected by Earth’s weather and other factors, including data storage in a satellite aboard in space, and relaying when there is a clear line of sight line of sight to a terminal. Engineers will also work on cutting of a transmission mid stream and picking it up on another ground station.
“We have to prove that there is technology, it works and it can be used both in space and on the ground.” Said James Reuther, manager in NASA‘s technology development department.
This project won the largest part of about $175 million. NASA plans to invest this in three technology trial runs, the other 2 projects are a deep space atomic clock, which can stand in as a celestial GPS navigation system, and a full size solar sail that can be used in place of spacecraft’s propulsion system.
The National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, among others is interested in solar sails as way to keep a long term guard in space to look for solar storms.
[Via: DiscoveryNews]
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