NASA intends to revolutionize the communications system on the International Space Station using two-way laser communication technology. NASA recently sent a laser communication station to the space station to test the effectiveness of using high-speed lasers in low orbit. But what advantages does the laser system provide in transmitting data in space and why are researchers preparing to move to this modern technology?
According to an article published by the British newspaper “Daily Mail”, current satellites rely on radio signals to communicate and exchange data with controllers. It is known that radio waves and lasers are two types of electromagnetic radiation that extend through a vacuum at the speed of light.
However, the difference lies in the ability of a laser communication system to transmit larger amounts of information per second, due to the high-frequency nature of the laser wave which allows data to be transmitted in bits.
The laser transmitter and receiver encodes the data in the form of laser photons, and upon returning to Earth, the signal is received using a highly efficient detector array that has the ability to recognize individual photons and decode the data.
While the signal travels at the speed of light, the difficulty of accurately transmitting a laser signal to a receiver on Earth increases with increasing distances. So, NASA is working to develop a system capable of overcoming this challenge and receiving the signal with complete accuracy.
The ultimate goal of this project is to integrate laser technology within the overall communications system in space. This is to build a fast and reliable network that meets the needs of the future of space exploration.
common questions:
What is a two-way laser system?
A two-way laser system is a communications system that uses laser beam technology to transmit data between the space station and Earth in both directions, allowing larger amounts of information to be transmitted at high speed.
Why does NASA prefer to use lasers instead of radio signals?
NASA prefers to use laser technology because of its ability to transmit large amounts of data per second, in addition to its high speed and efficiency in crossing the outer vacuum at the speed of light.
What are the challenges facing using lasers in space?
The use of laser technology in space faces challenges, such as the difficulty of accurately transmitting the signal to the receiver on Earth over long distances, but current research aims to overcome these challenges and achieve more benefits in the future.
