When NASA’s Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD)
begins operation aboard the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer
(LADEE) mission managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field,
Calif., it will attempt to show two-way laser communication beyond Earth is
possible, expanding the possibility of transmitting huge amounts of data. This
new ability could one day allow for 3-D High Definition video transmissions in
deep space to become routine.
“The goal of the LLCD experiment is to validate and build
confidence in this technology so that future missions will consider using it,”
said Don Cornwell, LLCD manager. “This unique ability developed by MIT
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory), has incredible
application possibilities and we are very excited to get this instrument off
the ground.”