In 2013, a NASA satellite will beam digital signals to an ESA receiving station fast enough to stream dozens of movies at once. The test will help to demonstrate the readiness of next-generation optical links for future data-intensive deep-space missions.
The joint ESA/NASA activity is part of NASA’s Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) project, which will use a new optical terminal flying on NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer – LADEE – spacecraft to communicate with a trio of stations on Earth.
NASA’s LADEE spacecraft, to be launched to the Moon in 2013, will transmit laser signals to two NASA stations, one in California and one in New Mexico, and to ESA’s Optical Ground Station (OGS), in Tenerife, Spain.
Ames is responsible for managing the mission, building the spacecraft and performing mission operations. {snip}NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., manages LADEE within the Lunar Quest Program Office.
See the Launch of NASA’s LADEE Mission to the MoonSept 5, 2013NASA will host a two-day event for 50 of its social media followers on Thursday, Sept. 5, and Friday, Sept. 6, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Va., for the launch of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE).LADEE is a robotic mission that will orbit our moon to gather detailed information about the structure and composition of the thin lunar atmosphere and determine if dust is being lofted into the lunar sky.A thorough understanding of these characteristics of our nearest celestial neighbor will help researchers understand other bodies in the solar system, such as Mercury, outer planets’ moons and larger asteroids. The mission was developed and built at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.LADEE is the first moon launch from Wallops Flight Facility and the first launch of Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Minotaur V rocket.NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to: View the launch of the Minotaur V rocket carrying LADEE Hear first-hand accounts of the mission development and research goals from the LADEE science and engineering teams from NASA Ames and other organizations Get a behind-the-scenes tour Wallops Flight Facility (Note: All sites on WFF are subject to closure due to mission requirements), including potential opportunities to: Tour Chincoteague Island View the Minotaur V launch pad Meet and interact with representatives from NASA and Orbital Sciences Corporation Meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media Meet members of NASA's social media teams Touch an actual moon rockRegistration opens on this page at 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 24, and closes at 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 31.REGISTER NOWhttp://socialforms.nasa.gov/register-for-nasa-social-no-guests What is a NASA Social?A NASA Social is an informal meeting of people who use social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Participants at this event will be provided a unique in-person experience at the NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, which they are encouraged to share with others through their favorite social networks.Guests will have an opportunity to learn more about NASA and new and recent discoveries about our moon and its connection to upcoming missions to asteroids, comets and other destinations! How do I register?Registration opens at 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 24, and closes at 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 31. Check back on this page for the registration link. Fifty participants will be randomly selected from online registrations. Registration is for one person only (you) and is non-transferable.Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list. Do I need to have a social media account to register?Yes. This event is designed for active social media users who follow NASA Wallops, NASA Ames, Orbital Sciences and NASA on Twitter (@NASALADEE, @NASA_Wallops, @NASAAmes, @OrbitalSciences, @NASA, @NASASocial), Facebook (NASA, Wallops, Ames, Orbital Sciences) and Google+ (NASA). The goal of a NASA Social is to allow people who regularly interact with each other via social networks to meet in person and discuss space exploration.Users on all social networks are encouraged to use the hashtag #NASASocial. Updates and information about the event will be shared on Twitter via @NASALADEE, @NASA_Wallops, @NASAAmes and @NASASocial and via posts to Facebook and Google+. What are the registration requirements?Registration indicates your intent to travel to NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia and attend the two-day event in person. You are responsible for your own expenses for travel, accommodation, food and other amenities.Some events and participants scheduled to appear at the event are subject to change without notice. NASA and Orbital Sciences are not responsible for loss or damage incurred as a result of attending. NASA and Orbital Sciences, moreover, are not responsible for loss or damage incurred if the event is cancelled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.Wallops is a government facility. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas. To be admitted, you will need to show two government-issued identifications (one with a photo) that match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. All registrants must be at least 18 years old. Can I register if I am not a U.S. citizen?Because portions of this event may take place in restricted areas, registration is limited to U.S. citizens. If you have a green card, you will be processed as a U.S. citizen. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas. To be admitted, you will need to show two government-issued identifications (one with a photo) that match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. All registrants must be at least 18 years old. Does my registration include a guest?Because of space limitations, you may not bring a guest. Each registration provides a place for one person only (you) and is non-transferable. Each individual wishing to attend must register separately. What if I cannot come to Wallops?If you cannot come to Wallops to attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social. You can follow the conversation using the #NASASocial hashtag on Twitter. NASA may broadcast a portion of the program on Sept. 5 and 6. You can watch the launch on Sept. 6 on NASA TV or in person at the Wallops public viewing site. NASA, will provide regular launch and mission updates on @NASA and @NASALADEE and other accounts.If you cannot make this NASA Social, don't despair; NASA is planning others in the near future at various locations. Check back on http://www.nasa.gov/social for updates. When will I know if I am selected?After registrations have been received and processed, an email with confirmation information and additional instructions will be sent to those selected and those on the waitlist. We expect to send notifications no later than Aug. 6.If you do not make the registration list for this NASA Social, you can still attend the launch and participate in the conversation online. Find out about ways to experience the launch and participate in the mission at http://www.nasa.gov/ladee. What if the launch date changes?Hundreds of different factors can cause a scheduled launch date to change multiple times. The launch date will not be official until after the Flight Readiness Review. If the launch date changes, NASA may adjust the date of the NASA Social accordingly to coincide with the new target launch date. NASA will notify registrants of any changes by email. There is a launch opportunity for LADEE each day from Sept. 6-10, should the launch slip.If the launch is postponed, attendees may be invited back to attend the launch at a future date.NASA Social attendees are responsible for any additional costs they incur related to any launch delay. We strongly encourage participants to make travel arrangements that are refundable and/or flexible. Does registration for and/or attendance at the NASA Social qualify me for media accreditation?Your NASA Social registration and/or attendance does not qualify you for news media credentials at Wallops Flight Facility, now or in the future. Have a question not answered here? Need more information? Help is available by sending an email to [email protected].
NASA Ames LADEE Mission - Science Collection / Orbital Variation / Lunar AtmospherePublished on Jul 19, 2013NASA Ames' Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is a robotic mission that will orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust. LADEE is scheduled to launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Sept. 6, 2013. This animation is contains three shots:1) A close up view of the Lunar Dust Experiment (LDEX) instrument. LDEX operates by detecting the ions generated when tiny particles of dust impact the back of the instrument at extremely high speed. The data collected will be used to calculate the mass, density, speed and electric charge of the lunar dust. 2) The variations in the orbital path flown by LADEE. The high point of the LADEE's orbit will vary between 100 and 160 kilometers, while the low point will vary between 50 and 20km above the surface of the moon.