"NASA's Laser Comm Terminal Makes Historic Link in Space Station"

NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and the Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) have successfully completed their first two-way laser link, marking NASA's first end-to-end laser relay system. This technology, using infrared light instead of radio waves, allows for more efficient data transfer and has the potential to accelerate scientific discoveries. The experiments are part of NASA's Space Communications and Navigation program and demonstrate how laser communications can benefit future space missions, including keeping astronauts connected during exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.