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NASA's Laser Communications Tech, Science Experiment Safely in Space

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 7, 2021

The payloads launched aboard the Space Test Program Satellite-6 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocketfrom Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as part of the U.S. Space Force's Space Test Program 3 mission.

Key Points: 
  • The payloads launched aboard the Space Test Program Satellite-6 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocketfrom Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as part of the U.S. Space Force's Space Test Program 3 mission.
  • "This launch introduces an exciting new technology for space missions," said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
  • NASA's LCRD will demonstrate the benefits of space-to-ground laser communications, also called optical communications.
  • LCRD is funded and managed through NASA's Technology Demonstration Missions program, part of the Space Technology Mission Directorate, and the Space Communications and Navigation program at NASA Headquarters.

NASA Sets Live Launch Coverage for Laser Communications Demonstration

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 30, 2021

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is taking a step toward the next era of space communications with the launch of its Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) on Sunday, Dec. 5.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is taking a step toward the next era of space communications with the launch of its Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) on Sunday, Dec. 5.
  • Live coverage of the launch is scheduled to air on NASA Television, the agency's website , and the NASA App beginning at 3:30 a.m. EST.
  • STP-3 will launch on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape CanaveralSpaceForce Station in Florida.
  • Take an inside look into the development of LCRD with a laser communications show from NASA EDGE.