NASA is preparing to test its new laser communications technology, ILLUMA-T, aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This technology is offered as an alternative to the radio frequency communication that has been used so far and has an extraordinary data transfer rate of 1.2 gigabits per second.
Highlights of the ILLUMA-T include its optical module, which precisely tracks the LCRD satellite. This technology will transmit data from the ISS to the LCRD, which will then be sent to ground stations. If successful, laser communications could revolutionize NASA's way of sending data from space.
NASA's long-term goal with this new technology is to integrate laser communications into all space communications networks. This integration will make communication more efficient by providing more bandwidth during data transfer. This can be compared to the fact that three trucks moving at the same speed can carry more cargo than a single truck.
