Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD)
Overview
The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) was a technology demonstration by NASA which ran from October 2013 to April 2014. Its purpose was to test an optical satellite communications link using a terminal on the LADEE spacecraft and three ground stations on Earth. LLCD demonstrated that downlink speeds up to 622 Mbps are possible using lasers while also providing lower SWaP than traditional Satcom systems. The project was headed by SCaN. [1]
LLCD used a 1550nm laser to achieve a successful downlink from the GEO-positioned LADEE spacecraft. The downlink speed ranged from 40 – 622 Mbps and the uplink speed ranged from 10 – 20 Mbps. The main ground stations used to receive during LLCD were NASA’s Table Mountain Facility run by JPL, the White Sands facility in New Mexico, and the ESA ground station on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. LLCD launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, on October 18, 2013. [2]
Related Links
Article: Historic Demonstration Proves Laser Communication Possible