Space Optical Communications Using Laser Beams

NASA has developed a new technology for space optical communications, including communications from the Earth to spacecraft in Earth orbit and in deep space, such as at the Moon and Mars. The innovation changes the architecture of space optical communications so that a new laser beam pointing technology is used to improve optical data transmissions from spacecraft. This technology will detect a signal laser beam and then return a modulated laser beam to the ground terminal or other transmitter station in a new way. This new design can replace current methods that either use a laser together with a pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) procedure in the spacecraft, or a powerful ground-based laser with a retro-reflector in the spacecraft.