The state-of-the-art ground station, called Optical Ground Station 2 (OGS-2), is the second of two built
This will be the first NASA relay systemmaking full use of optical communications, which will give the agency the opportunity to test the new communication method and learn valuable lessons from its implementation. Relay satellites provide important communication channels between scientific and research missions and the Earth, allowing them to transmit important data to scientists and mission leaders at home.
Although optical communication offers many advantages formissions, it may be disrupted by atmospheric disturbances such as clouds. OGS-2 was chosen to be located in Hawaii due to clear skies, but bad weather could still hinder the project. On a cloudy day, the LCRD will have to wait before transmitting data. To avoid delays, services may be transmitted by another ground station developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, OGS-1, located in California. To monitor cloud cover and determine the need for OGS-1, commercial partner Northrop Grumman provided an atmospheric monitoring station that monitors weather conditions at the site. This monitoring station operates almost autonomously 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
LCRD and OGS-2 will demonstrate numerousoptical or laser communication capabilities for use as a repeater. Optical communications offer significant mission benefits, including 10 to 100 times faster data rates than comparable RF communications systems. This increase means higher-resolution data for missions, giving scientists a much more detailed view of our planet and solar system. The benefits also include reduced power consumption, size and weight, which means longer battery life, more space for additional tools on the spacecraft, and potential cost savings on launch from lighter payloads.
Optical communication thanks to the development of LCRD and twoits ground terminals could have far-reaching implications for future knowledge of the Earth and our solar system. Spacecraft equipped with optical communication systems will allow improved data, such as high-definition video, to be returned to Earth faster by increasing data rates. Thanks to these data, scientists will be able to get to know our Universe better and make exciting new discoveries.
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