NASA’s Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) uses a pulsed laser beam to transmit data from Earth to the moon. The record-setting laser recently made history by sending data 239,000 miles at a download speed of 622 megabits per second (Mbps). Radio frequency has been the main method of communication, but does not have the data capacity and speed of laser. If the laser program is successful, NASA plans to use it on future missions.

“LLCD is NASA’s first system for two-way communication using a laser instead of radio waves,” explains a NASA news release. “It also has demonstrated an error-free data upload rate of 20 Mbps transmitted from the primary ground station in New Mexico to the spacecraft currently orbiting the moon.”

“LLCD is the first step on our roadmap toward building the next generation of space communication capability,” said Badri Younes, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for space communications and navigation. “We are encouraged by the results of the demonstration to this point, and we are confident we are on the right path to introduce this new capability into operational service soon.”

NASA has relied on radio frequency (RF) communications from the beginning of space travel. But RF is approaching its limit as there are more demands for increased data capacity. The development and use of laser communications will allow NASA to use advanced information transmissions that include high-resolution images and 3D video from deep space.