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Communication system

Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD)

A NASA optical-communication relay in geostationary orbit that demonstrates two-way laser links between ground stations and spacecraft, a stepping stone toward operational optical relays in the Near Space Network.

Type
Communication system
Domain
Scientific connections
Connections
2

Experience system V6

Communication system scientific profile

A graph-grounded scientific layout that adapts to available evidence, imagery, relations, and source coverage.

Evidence graphScientific mapOriginal SVGSource trail
  1. 01

    Observe

    The page falls back to graph and source evidence when no cleared image is available.

  2. 02

    Measure

    Measurement panels use graph coverage, catalog identifiers, and source availability without inventing values.

  3. 03

    Locate

    Part of Near Space Network.

  4. 04

    Connect

    2 graph relations shape the knowledge viewport.

Object type
Communication system
Graph relations
2
Verified sources
1
Image records
0
Domain
Scientific connections
Status
Graph entity

Scientific map

Atlas context

Laser Communications Rela...coordinate fields shown only when available
  • Part of

    Near Space Network

  • Uses band

    Optical (Laser)

Original SVG diagram

Scientific schematic

Optical pathCollected lightFocal plane / instrumentCommunication system
Object class
Communication system
Catalog numbers
Not recorded
Graph relations
2
Sources
1
Near Space NetworkOptical (Laser)Laser Communications Re...Communication system

Visual knowledge graph

Relationships, not isolated facts

This viewport is generated from the Asteria knowledge graph. Science, culture, and interpretive links remain separated by domain so visual context never changes the evidentiary meaning of a relation.

Continue the atlas

Curated next objects

tracking network

Near Space Network

NASA's network of ground stations and relay satellites (formerly the Space Network's TDRSS and the Ground Network) that supports missions in Earth orbit and near-Earth space.

signal band

Optical (Laser)

Laser communication encodes data on an infrared beam instead of radio waves. Its far shorter wavelength packs data into a tighter beam, promising data rates 10–100× higher than radio — the frontier of deep-space communication, demonstrated by DSOC on the Psyche spacecraft.

communication system

Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC)

NASA's technology demonstration of laser communication from deep space, flying as a rider on the Psyche spacecraft. It transmitted data over tens of millions of kilometres at rates far beyond radio, proving optical links for future missions.

communication system

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS)

A fleet of geostationary relay satellites that give near-Earth spacecraft — including the ISS and Hubble — near-continuous contact with the ground, instead of only during the few minutes of a ground-station pass. TDRS is the space-based half of NASA's Near Space Network.

ground station

Alaska Satellite Facility

A high-latitude ground station in Fairbanks, part of NASA's Near Space Network, heavily used for polar-orbiting Earth-observation satellites.

mission operations center

Goddard Mission Operations

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland operates many Earth-orbiting and astrophysics missions and hosts the Near Space Network's control functions.

Data

Scientific data & provenance

Data & provenance

Stable ID
communication_system:lcrd
Type
Communication system
Domain
Scientific connections
Relationships
2
Graph version
1.0.0

Dataset membership

Open data

In the graph export: graph.json · graph.jsonld

Planned API: GET /api/v0/entities/communication_system:lcrd

Scientific quality

Partial
Unreviewed1 sourcev1.0.0

1 of 4 applicable dimensions complete, 2 partial

Description
Complete
Source coverage
Partial
Relationship coverage
Partial
Review coverage
None
Citation coverage
Not applicable
Image coverage
Not applicable
Timeline coverage
Not applicable

Scientific entity. Dimensions that cannot apply to this object are excluded rather than counted as gaps. See the evidence framework and authority dashboard.

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Sources & references

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.