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[Upbeat Music]

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NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration

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(LCRD) is blasting off to space from Florida to prove

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we can communicate using lasers.

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LCRD will relay sample data,

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like glimpses of planetary surfaces

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or satellite health,

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down to Earth over infrared lasers.

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Historically, NASA has used

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radio waves to communicate.

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When we landed on the Moon in 1969,

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Neil Armstrong’s

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first words came across radio waves.

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“That’s one

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small step for man,

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one

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giant leap for mankind.”

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When we go back to the moon,

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we’re going to stay longer

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and explore more.

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With so many new and exciting things

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happening on the Moon,

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missions will need a better way to talk with Earth.

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That is where lasers come in.

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LCRD will demo

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the vast capabilities of

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laser communications.

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This includes transmitting 10 to 100

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times more information to Earth

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than is possible using radio systems

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meaning missions can send

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more detailed photos,

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videos, and data.

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When LCRD reaches its

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destination, it will spend

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two years conducting experiments that will

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be developed by NASA

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and our friends in industry and academia.

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LCRD’s

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first orbiting experimental

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user will be the International Space Station.

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Astronauts

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live and work there, conducting

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research about life in space,

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microgravity, biology, and more.

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Using lasers,

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the station will be able to relay

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more experimental data

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to scientists on Earth.

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Laser systems are great for missions

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like the space station because they weigh less,

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are smaller, and use less

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power than radio systems.

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A smaller size means more room

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for science instruments.

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Less weight means

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a less expensive launch.

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Less power means less drain

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on the spacecraft’s batteries.

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LCRD and the space station

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will work together and

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demonstrate laser communications near Earth.

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This will help prove laser systems

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are an option for our future expeditions

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back to the Moon and then on to Mars.

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Join us and learn more at

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nasa.gov/lasercomms

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