{"id":94267,"date":"2022-05-24T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-24T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-479823"},"modified":"2023-07-26T16:38:13","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T20:38:13","slug":"cubesat-set-to-demonstrate-nasas-fastest-laser-link-from-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/cubesat-set-to-demonstrate-nasas-fastest-laser-link-from-space\/","title":{"rendered":"CubeSat Set to Demonstrate NASA\u2019s Fastest Laser Link from Space"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>NASA\u2019s Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator 3 (PTD-3) mission, carrying the <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/esc.gsfc.nasa.gov\/news\/Small_Satellite_Makes_Big_Impact_on_Optical_Infusion\">TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) system<\/a>, will debut on May 25 as part of SpaceX\u2019s Transporter-5 rideshare launch. TBIRD will showcase the high-data-rate capabilities of laser communications from a CubeSat in low-Earth orbit. At 200 gigabits per second (Gbps), TBIRD will downlink data at the highest optical rate ever achieved by NASA.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center padding-y-3 maxw-full width-full display-flex flex-align-center hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-blockquote\"><div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block display-flex flex-column flex-justify-center padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:display-flex mobile:display-block\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-icon margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"tablet:square-4 square-4 margin-right-3\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 3000 3000\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 3000 3000;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"> <g> <path d=\"M586.7,1429.7c-10.7,1.5-21.4,2.8-33.9,4.5c6.9-26.6,12.7-50.7,19.5-74.6c32.4-114.1,78.5-222.2,146.8-319.5 c90.2-128.5,202.5-235.3,327.7-329.1c8.4-6.3,16.7-12.6,25.3-19.1c-66.3-105.1-131.5-208.6-197.3-313.1c-3.5,1.2-5.5,1.6-7.2,2.6 C714.4,469,576.1,575.7,456,705.3c-126,135.9-226.2,289.1-303,457.8c-98.8,217.1-151.3,444-147.2,683.3 c1.7,100.5,12.9,199.6,41.1,296.3C93.7,2303,182.2,2433,326.7,2520.1c176.9,106.7,366.8,126.8,563.4,70.5 c150.9-43.2,260.9-138.9,327.2-282.5c33.4-72.5,47.8-149.4,52-228.7c6.5-122.8-14.1-239.5-74.3-348.1 C1074.6,1514.5,832.7,1394.2,586.7,1429.7z\"><\/path><path d=\"M2912.5,1722c-129.9-210.9-320.2-309.4-567.9-296c-22.1,1.2-44,5.1-67.4,7.9c2.2-9.6,4-17.9,6.1-26.2 c37.9-153.6,99.3-296,198.8-420.5c77.8-97.4,167.1-182.9,265.8-258.8c15.6-12,31.3-23.9,47.9-36.5 c-66.2-105.1-131.9-209.2-197.2-312.8c-3.5,1.1-5.1,1.2-6.4,2c-167.2,95.6-316.1,213.7-443.2,358.8 c-105.1,119.9-191.1,252.3-259.5,396.3c-95.5,201-152.1,411.6-159.1,634.8c-3.9,125.5,4.8,249.7,40.1,371 c46.7,160.8,135.7,290.9,280.5,378.7c165.7,100.5,344.8,123,531.2,78.8c172.4-40.8,296.4-143.9,366.3-308.5 c28.5-67.2,40.6-138,44.6-210.5C3000.2,1953.3,2979.9,1831.4,2912.5,1722z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"font-weight-extralight line-height-sm margin-top-0 section-heading-sm\"><span class=\"section-heading-sm\">TBIRD is a game changer and will be very important for future human exploration and science missions.\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-image hds-cover-wrapper margin-right-3\"><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"109\" height=\"92\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/nasa-logo.svg?w=109&h=92&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Andreas Doulaveris\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-name line-height-sm margin-0\">Andreas Doulaveris<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-title line-height-sm padding-0 margin-0\">TBIRD Mission Systems Engineer at Goddard<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA primarily uses radio frequency to communicate with spacecraft, but with sights set on human exploration of the Moon and Mars and the development of enhanced scientific instruments, NASA needs more efficient communications systems to transmit significant amounts of data. With more data, researchers can make profound discoveries. Laser communications substantially increases data transport capabilities, offering higher data rates and more information packed into a single transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTBIRD is a game changer and will be very important for future human exploration and science missions.\u201d said Andreas Doulaveris, TBIRD\u2019s mission systems engineer at NASA\u2019s <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\/\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a> in Greenbelt, Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a single seven-minute pass at 200 Gbps, TBIRD will send back terabytes of data and give NASA more insight into the capabilities of laser communications. The addition of laser communications to spacecraft is similar to switching from dial-up to high-speed internet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs future science instruments and imaging systems incorporate the latest technology advancements, they\u2019ll return very large volumes of data on a daily basis,\u201d said Jason Mitchell, Director of the Advanced Communications and Navigation Technology division within NASA\u2019s <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/scan\/about\/overview\/index.html\">Space Communications and Navigation<\/a> (SCaN) program. \u201cThese missions will need the downlink capabilities that laser communications can provide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The TBIRD system, funded by SCaN and built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts, is about the size of a tissue box and is integrated into PTD-3, a CubeSat that is the size of two stacked cereal boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Illustration of TBIRD downlinking data over lasers links to Optical Ground Station 1 in California. \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tbird_conops_public.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Illustration of TBIRD downlinking data over lasers links to Optical Ground Station 1 in California. (Not drawn to scale)<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA \/ Dave Ryan<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/small_spacecraft\/smallsat_overview.html\">Small Spacecraft Technology<\/a> program at NASA\u2019s <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/ames\">Ames Research Center<\/a> in California\u2019s Silicon Valley manages the <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/small_spacecraft\/Pathfinder_Technology_Demonstrator\/\">PTD mission series<\/a>. The PTD series leverages a common commercial spacecraft to provide a robust platform for effective testing of technologies with minimal redesign in between launches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSmall spacecraft continue to prove themselves vital building blocks for larger, more complicated missions,\u201d said Roger Hunter, program manager for Small Spacecraft Technology at Ames. \u201cWe are pushing the envelope by increasing the pace of subsystem technology demonstrations through the innovations of our industry partners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) integrated within the PTD-3 spacecraft. \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg 2851w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=300,219 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=768,561 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=1024,747 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=1536,1121 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=2048,1495 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=400,292 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=600,438 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=900,657 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=1200,876 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ptd-3-spacecraft-arrays-p1270047.jpg?resize=2000,1460 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator 3 with Solar Arrays Deployed: TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) integrated within the PTD-3 spacecraft. PTD-3\u2019s solar arrays will provide power to TBIRD.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Terran Orbital Corporation<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Historically, most new spacecraft missions have required custom spacecraft designs based on the requirements of their payloads. This step is as costly and complex as redesigning a car every time a person needs to travel. Each PTD mission uses the same spacecraft bus and avionics platform designs with the goal of increasing efficiency and reducing the amount of time required for mission planning and design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Terran Orbital of Irvine, California, provides the spacecraft, integrates the payload, and operates PTD missions. This approach allows the PTD series to rapidly and affordably demonstrate new subsystem technologies for increasing small spacecraft capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to being on a standardized commercial spacecraft, TBIRD was also built from existing commercial, telecommunications hardware products that were modified for the extreme environment of space. Leveraging existing components increases efficiency and creates cost savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the course of the mission, PTD-3 will demonstrate highly stable body pointing, meaning the spacecraft can be precisely directed toward the ground station to facilitate TBIRD\u2019s downlink demonstration. TBIRD\u2019s streamlined design does not contain any moving mechanisms, so the spacecraft\u2019s pointing ability enables the laser communications telescope\u2019s connection from space to ground. TBIRD\u2019s ground station is in Table Mountain, California, and is managed by NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1473\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg?w=1473\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"OGS-1 at JPL\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg 1473w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg?resize=300,196 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg?resize=768,501 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg?resize=1024,667 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg?resize=400,261 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg?resize=600,391 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg?resize=900,587 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/microsoftteams-image_55.jpg?resize=1200,782 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1473px) 100vw, 1473px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During TBIRD\u2019s six-month operations, NASA and its partners will gather as much information as possible about laser communications functionality on small satellites. PTD-3 will launch as soon as May 25, 2022, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on SpaceX\u2019s Transporter-5 rideshare mission, which will use a Falcon 9 rocket to launch multiple CubeSats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, PTD-3 and TBIRD have the capacity to help NASA make giant leaps in the advancement of space technology for laser communications and the overall utility of small spacecraft to support exploration and science goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A second, separate technology demonstration supported by NASA\u2019s Small Spacecraft Technology program will also be aboard the Transporter-5 launch: the CubeSat Proximity Operations Demonstration, which will demonstrate rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking using two 3-unit CubeSats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>TBIRD is a collaborative effort between NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley; NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington; and Terran Orbital Corporation in Irvine, California. Funding and oversight for the TBIRD payload comes from the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program office at NASA Headquarters within the Space Operations Mission Directorate. The PTD-3 mission is managed and funded by the Small Spacecraft Technology program within the NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-about-the-author nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-about-the-author\"><div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-x-0 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black padding-top-3\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h3 class=\"heading-14\">About the Author<\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-row grid-container padding-x-0 maxw-widescreen\"><div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><div class=\"grid-row\"><div class=\"hds-author-thumbnail mobile:circle-6 mobile:maxw-6 circle-card maxw-card thumbnail margin-right-2 desktop:margin-right-5\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"10rem\" height=\"10rem\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"avatar avatar-300 photo medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/cropped-headshot-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Murphy\"><\/div><div class=\"grid-col\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-29 line-height-sm\">Kendall Murphy<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"heading-12 p-md\">Technical Writer<\/div><div class=\"padding-y-2\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><p class=\"margin-top-0\">Kendall Murphy is a technical writer for the Space Communications and Navigation program office. She specializes in internal and external engagement, educating readers about space communications and navigation technology.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Missions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-1.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Humans in Space<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-2.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Climate Change<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-3.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Solar System<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-4.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">5 Min Read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCubeSat Set to Demonstrate NASA\u2019s Fastest Laser Link from Space\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 52% 55%; object-position: 52% 55%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile desktop:padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><figcaption>TBIRD downlinking data to Earth from low-Earth orbit<\/figcaption><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-credits color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credits: <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA \/ Dave Ryan<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator 3 (PTD-3) mission, carrying the TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) system, will debut on May 25 as part of SpaceX\u2019s Transporter-5 rideshare launch. TBIRD will showcase the high-data-rate capabilities of laser communications from a CubeSat in low-Earth orbit. At 200 gigabits per second (Gbps), TBIRD will downlink data at the highest optical [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":147515,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3207,3315,2877],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[3913],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"CubeSat Set to Demonstrate NASA\u2019s Fastest Laser Link from Space","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/cubesat-set-to-demonstrate-nasas-fastest-laser-link-from-space\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/cubesat-set-to-demonstrate-nasas-fastest-laser-link-from-space\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kendall Murphy"}],"creator":["Kendall Murphy"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Operations Mission Directorate","Laser Communications Relay","Space Communications & Navigation Program"],"dateCreated":"2022-05-24T22:30:00Z","datePublished":"2022-05-24T22:30:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T20:38:13Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"CubeSat Set to Demonstrate NASA\u2019s Fastest Laser Link from Space\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/cubesat-set-to-demonstrate-nasas-fastest-laser-link-from-space\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2022-05-24T22:30:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Operations Mission Directorate,Laser Communications Relay,Space Communications & Navigation Program\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Kendall Murphy\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"time_ago":"2 years","featured_image":{"id":147515,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic.png","title":"tbird_downlink_to_ogs-1_graphic","alt":"TBIRD communicating over laser links to Earth","caption":"TBIRD downlinking data to Earth from low-Earth orbit"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94267"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/345"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94267"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":371670,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94267\/revisions\/371670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94267"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=94267"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=94267"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=94267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}