Category Archives: Lunar Communications

Wednesday / 7 August 2013

Posted on by

LADEE Missions To Demonstrate Revolutionary New Communication System

LLCD0813

Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) System Ready For Launch On LADEE Mission After Series Of Successful Ground Tests; ESA Observatory In Spain & 2 US Ground Terminals Will Relay Data To The Moon Orbiter At Unprecedented Rates (622 Mbps); Laser Wavelengths 10,000 Times Shorter Than Radio, Allowing For Reduction In Antenna Size – Lowering Mass, Volume, Power Requirements Of Future Space Missions; LADEE Launching 6 Sep 2013

Image Credit: NASA

Thursday / 18 July 2013

Posted on by

ILO Mission Demonstrates Rising Importance Of Moon South Pole Destination

ILO_SouthPole713

South Pole Destination Of NET 2016 ILO-Moon Express Lunar Mission Selected To Ensure Long-Duration Nature Of Mission – Thermal Environment (~-50°C) / Solar Power Access On Malapert Mountain / PEL, Continuous Line Of Sight To Earth For Commercial Communications, Ability To Image Milky Way Galaxy Center; ILO Also To Observe & Report Human Lunar Buildout, Private & Public Parties Pointing To South Pole / Aitken Basin – With Prevalent Water Ice / Mineral Deposits – As Ideal Location For Development 

Image Credit: ILOA, Moon Express, NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 15-18 Mar 2013

Posted on by

Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration Ready For Launch

LLCD0313

Rigorous Testing & Integration Of LLCD System On LADEE Spacecraft Complete; Technology Demonstration Will See Data Sent From Lunar Orbit To Earth At Up To 622 Mbps – 6 Times The Rate Of Advanced Radio Communication Systems; Hundreds Of Millions Of Short Infrared Pulses Sent Precisely Every Second To Any One Of 3 Ground Telescopes In New Mexico, California & Spain; LADEE To Launch In Aug 2013

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 18-21 Jan 2013

Posted on by

Mona Lisa Used For LRO Laser Communication Test

MonaLisaLRO

Leonardo da Vinci Masterpiece Used For First-Ever One-Way Laser Communication At Planetary Distance; Black & White 152 X 200 Pixel Image, Beamed From NASA Goddard SFC To LRO LOLA Instrument 386,000km Away At Slow Rate Of 300 Bits / Second; Experiment Allowed For Calibration Of Atmospheric Distortion In Preparation For LLCD Experiment On LADEE; Laser Communication Holds Promise Of Bringing Live, HD Video Feeds From Jupiter & Beyond

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 21-24 Dec 2012

Posted on by

ILOA Preparing For Historic Year In 2013

ILOA2013_1212

In 2013 International Lunar Observatory Association Will Participate In The First Moon Surface Mission In 37 Years, Conducting Galaxy / Astro Observations With Chang’e-3 Lander UV Telescope; NET Early 2015 ILO-X Precursor Mission Payload Will Land On Moon Aboard GLXP Front-Runner Moon Express Craft; Primary ILO-1 Observations / Communications Mission With MDA, ME To South Pole NET Late 2015; ILO Human Service Mission By 2020 Advancing Through Partnership With Golden Spike Co.

Image Credit: ILOA, Moon Express, CASC, Golden Spike Company

Lunar Enterprise Daily Will Return NLT 3 January 2013

Aloha

Thursday / 6 December 2012

Posted on by

Telepresence Tours Of The Moon

Peter Kokh Speculates On Plausibility Of Telepresence Tours Of Moon In Moon Miners’ Manifesto Nov 2012 Issue #260; Predicts Telepresence Technology Could Advance Through Private Enterprise Investment; By 2019 ‘Moon Telepresence Booths’ Could Allow Public To Experience Working On Moon; Would Increase Interest / Support Of Lunar Exploration, Technology Could Also Be Used In Science / Exploration

Image Credit: NASA, Moon Society, howstuffworks.com

Tuesday / 4 December 2012

Posted on by

LADEE LLCD Test Could Revolutionize Lunar Communications

Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD) Set For Next Aug As Payload On NASA LADEE Spacecraft; Optical Communications Via High-Bandwidth Laser Light Allow For More Data Transmission For Same Power As Radio; LLCD Mission Manager Donald Cornwell Says They Hope To Demonstrate 622 mbps From Moon, Compared To 100 mbps Ka-Band Radio Communications Utilized By LRO

Image Credit: NASA, LinkedIn