Talk:Laser Communications Relay Demonstration

What advanced concepts are being worked that will depend on this LCRD mission?
So if the LCRD demo mission in 2017 is successful, what advanced concepts are being worked—at NASA or elsewhere—that will depend on this LCRD mission? In other words, what are the future concepts for this tech beyond Geosynchronous Earth–to–Earth communication?

For example, how might extensions of this tech be used to increase communication bandwidth in the inner solar system? The NASA/OCT video (about Goddard and JPL work) show a graphic and has a few words about HDTV-type bandwidth from Mars? Fine. But the article will be improved when we can describe some of those spacecraft and free-space optical laser comm concepts that might make practical use of this demo technology during the 2020s. N2e (talk) 17:43, 29 April 2014 (UTC)


 * I get the impression LCRD is more about encouraging US industry to use lasers to/from communications sats in GEO, than about communication with deep space science probes, eg.  - Rod57 (talk) 13:21, 13 December 2021 (UTC)

What can we say about launch date and which satellite
in mid 2016 says it should launch mid-2019.

Now in 2019 - are NASA still planning to launch this year "on a commercial satellite" ? What satellite are they planning to attach LCRD to ? Do they just mean on a commercial satellite bus (dedicated to LCRD) ? Rod57 (talk) 11:56, 14 February 2019 (UTC)


 * LCRD Nasa website still says "The investigation will conduct ground technology validation testing in 2017. It will fly as a commercial satellite payload in 2019."


 * GAO assessment of LCRD May 2018 says there have been delays and cost overruns but should be ready to launch by November 2019. ... as a payload on a U.S. Air Force Space Test Program satellite STP-3, on an Atlas V 551 - Rod57 (talk) 09:39, 20 October 2019 (UTC)


 * LCRD is minor? experiment on STPSat-6, which is primary satellite on STP-3 mission/launch. It's not clear if the LCRD delays are delaying the launch of STPsat-6, or when LCRD is to be integrated into STPat-6. - Rod57 (talk) 09:35, 11 July 2020 (UTC)

Details ?
Mass ? power ? NIR frequency ? details of optics ? Causes of delays in build & test ?

Its barely above geostationary orbit; What bandwidth is hoped for ? How does it build on the precuror mission (LLCD) that achieved 600 MB/s from near the moon ! Why is LCRD being tested closer than the moon ?

How does it compare to Mars_Laser_Communication_Demonstration intended for cancelled Mars Telecommunications Orbiter ? - Rod57 (talk) 19:38, 11 July 2020 (UTC)
 * "precursor mission" was Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) equipment on LADEE, 2013/4. - Rod57 (talk) 13:39, 20 October 2021 (UTC)


 * How does it compare to Deep Space Optical Communications demo to fly on Psyche spacecraft in 2022 ? - Rod57 (talk) 01:49, 21 February 2021 (UTC)

Possible source
NASA and industry embrace laser communications talks about commercial off-the-shelf components, and organisations involved in LCRD. Could use ? - Rod57 (talk) 13:17, 13 December 2021 (UTC)

Results
It's been in space a year now. - What results have been reported, or has the equivalent comms module not yet been installed on the ISS ? - Rod57 (talk) 20:28, 1 December 2022 (UTC)