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Completed TRL 8 (started at 7, targeting 8)
On December 7, 2021, LCRD launched as a hosted payload on the Department of Defense's Space Test Program Satellite-6 (STPSat-6) mission. Once in geosynchronous orbit, LCRD began transmitting data over laser links at 1.2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) — fast enough to download a movie in under a minute. Operates and sustains the LCRD payload through the initial 2-year Laser Comm Relay Demo (LCRD) mission experiment program. Develops and runs experiments and prepares LCRD for operational handover at the end of June 2024. Partnership with STMD Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM): TDM: flight terminal, SCaN: ground.
LCRD acts as an experiment platform for NASA, other government agencies, and commercial companies to refine laser communications capabilities. Since its 2021 launch, LCRD has conducted over 1,500 experiment configurations with its two ground stations — testing adaptive optics, signal acquisition, atmospheric impact, and more. NASA continues to seek out new experiments with LCRD. Demonstrated and validated LCRD end to end, two way performance metrics in preparation for the follow on operational phase.
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This is a mature technology (TRL 8) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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