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What is NASA’s new communications system LCRD?
- IAS NEXT, Lucknow
- 09, Dec 2021
Reference News:-
NASA has launched its new Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD).
- It is the agency’s first-ever laser communications system.
- The LCRD will help the agency test optical communication in space.
About LCRD:
LCRD is a technology demonstration that will pave the way for future optical communications missions.
- The LCRD payload is hosted onboard the US Department of Defense’s Space Test Program Satellite 6 (STPSat-6).
- It will be in a geosynchronous orbit, over 35,000km above Earth.
Advantages of optical communications systems:
Optical communications systems are smaller in size, weight, and require less power compared with radio instruments.
- A smaller size means more room for science instruments.
- Less weight means a less expensive launch.
- Less power means less drain on the spacecraft’s batteries.
- With optical communications supplementing radio, missions will have unparalleled communications capabilities.
Laser VS radio: Laser communications and radio waves use different wavelengths of light.
- Laser uses infrared light and has a shorter wavelength than radio waves. This will help the transmission of more data in a short time.