NASA to Demonstrate Laser Communications from Space Station

Aug 28, 2023

NASA uses the International Space Station — a football field-sized spacecraft orbiting Earth — to learn more about living and working in space. For over 20 years, the space station has provided a unique platform for investigation and research in areas like biology, technology, agriculture, and more. It serves as a home for astronauts conducting experiments, including advancing NASA’s space communications capabilities.

In 2023, NASA is sending a technology demonstration known as the Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) to the space station. Together, ILLUMA-T and the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD), which launched in December 2021, will complete NASA’s first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system.

With ILLUMA-T, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program office will demonstrate the power of laser communications from the space station. Using invisible infrared light, laser communications systems send and receive information at higher data rates. With higher data rates, missions can send more images and videos back to Earth in a single transmission. Once installed on the space station, ILLUMA-T will showcase the benefits higher data rates could have for missions in low Earth orbit.

“Laser communications offer missions more flexibility and an expedited way to get data back from space,” said Badri Younes, former deputy associate administrator for NASA's SCaN program. “We are integrating this technology on demonstrations near Earth, at the Moon, and in deep space.”

In addition to higher data rates, laser systems are lighter and use less power — a key benefit when designing spacecraft. ILLUMA-T is approximately the size of a standard refrigerator and will be secured to an external module on the space station to conduct its demonstration with LCRD.

Currently, LCRD is showcasing the benefits of a laser relay in geosynchronous orbit – 22,000 miles from Earth – by beaming data between two ground stations and conducting experiments to further refine NASA’s laser capabilities.

“Once ILLUMA-T is on the space station, the terminal will send high-resolution data, including pictures and videos to LCRD at a rate of 1.2 gigabits-per-second,” said Matt Magsamen, deputy project manager for ILLUMA-T. “Then, the data will be sent from LCRD to ground stations in Hawaii and California. This demonstration will show how laser communications can benefit missions in low Earth orbit.”

ILLUMA-T is launching as a payload on SpaceX’s 29th Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA. In the first two weeks after its launch, ILLUMA-T will be removed from the Dragon spacecraft’s trunk for installation on the station’s Japanese Experiment Module-Exposed Facility (JEM-EF), also known as “Kibo” — meaning “hope” in Japanese.

Following the payload’s installation, the ILLUMA-T team will perform preliminary testing and in-orbit checkouts. Once completed, the team will make a pass for the payload’s first light — a critical milestone where the mission transmits its first beam of laser light through its optical telescope to LCRD.

Once first light is achieved, data transmission and laser communications experiments will begin and continue throughout the duration of the planned mission.

Testing Lasers in Different Scenarios

In the future, operational laser communications will supplement radio frequency systems, which most space-based missions use today to send data home. ILLUMA-T is not the first mission to test laser communications in space but brings NASA closer to operational infusion of the technology.

Aside from LCRD, ILLUMA-T’s predecessors include the 2022 TeraByte InfraRed Delivery system, which is currently testing laser communications on a small CubeSat in low Earth orbit; the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration, which transferred data to and from lunar orbit to the Earth and back during the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer mission in 2014; and the 2017 Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science, which demonstrated how laser communications can speed up the flow of information between Earth and space compared to radio signals.

Testing the ability for laser communications to produce higher data rates in a variety of scenarios will help the aerospace community further refine the capability for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and deep space.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2023/nasa-to-demonstrate-laser-communications-from-space-station

Guy Bluford, the First African American in Space

Aug 30, 2023

In this image from Sept. 5, 1983, Guion “Guy” Bluford checks out the sample pump on the continuous flow electrophoresis system (CFES) experiment in the middeck of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger.

Forty years ago today, he launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, becoming the first African American to fly in space. Bluford was a member of NASA's "Thirty-Five New Guys" – the 1978 astronaut class, which had the first African American, the first Asian American, and the first women astronauts.

During the STS-8 mission, the crew deployed the Indian National Satellite INSAT-1B, operated the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System with the Payload Flight Test Article, operated the CFES, conducted medical measurements to understand biophysiological effects of spaceflight, and activated four “Getaway Special” canisters. STS-8 completed 98 orbits of the Earth in 145 hours before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on Sept. 5, 1983.

https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/guy-bluford-the-first-african-american-in-space

>>19462067

Mitch McConnell Freezes Again

12:53 PM – Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze again during an exchange with reporters in Covington, Kentucky.

On Wednesday, the 81-year-old froze up after reporters asked him if he would be running for re-election in 2026.

The incident marks the second time in recent weeks that the Minority leader has abruptly stopped speaking out of nowhere during a conference.

The senator suddenly froze at the podium and did not speak another word for about 30 seconds, expressing a blank stare. A member of his staff then reportedly approached him and questioned if he had heard the reporter, but he did not appear to answer immediately.

“All right, I’m sorry, you all. We’re going to need a minute,” the aide said, apologizing.

After staring off for almost a minute, McConnell finally said “Ok,” motioning that he was ready to answer another question.

Another reporter then asked what his opinion was regarding Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s gubernatorial race.

After McConnell’s aide repeated the question by whispering into his ear, the senator finally said, “I think the governor’s race is going to be very close.”

McConnell was also questioned about former President Donald Trump, which had to be repeated to him as well, but he shook his head and decided to wave off the question.

This most recent incident comes after McConnell stopped speaking mid-sentence for a minute during a press conference last month.

At the time, McConnell refused to answer inquiries about whether the health crisis was related to a concussion he had suffered earlier this year when he fell at a campaign fundraiser.

https://www.oann.com/newsroom/mitch-mcconnell-freezes-again/

https://twitter.com/simonateba/status/1696947606084059615

>>19462295

U.S. Space Force looks to boost allied tracking of North Korea missiles

August 30, 20232:36 AM PDT

SEOUL, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. and South Korean militaries want to more closely integrate their systems for tracking North Korean missile launches, an effort that may soon see more cooperation with Japan as well, U.S. Space Force officials said on Wednesday.

Led by a small contingent of U.S. Space Force personnel - the branch's first official component set up overseas - the allies see closer space integration as key to better tracking North Korean threats and responding to a conflict.

U.S. President Joe Biden agreed with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at an Aug. 18 summit that by the end of this year the three countries would share North Korea missile warning data in real time.

The exact details of that trilateral cooperation are being worked out at higher levels, Space Force officials told reporters at a briefing at Osan Air Base, south of Seoul.

"My understanding is there are future bilateral agreements and possibly trilateral agreements that are in the works, especially on the missile warning piece… with sharing that data," said Major Matt Taylor, deputy commander of U.S. Space Forces - Korea.

There are gatherings planned for personnel to collaborate and share processes and procedures, he said.

"None of those details and have been refined or decided at this point but those discussions are being had," Taylor added.

So far the Space Force component in South Korea, which began operating in December, has focused on closer integration with the South Koreans and ensuring that U.S. troops there have more access to space-based assets, the officials said.

Missile tracking data, including information from the U.S. Space-based Infrared System (SBIRS), which can detect missile launches, is already being automatically shared with U.S. allies through early warning systems, said Master Sergeant Shawn Stafford.

South Korea and Japan rely mostly on land and sea-based radars to track launches, but South Korean Air Force Space Operation Squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel Kim Jong Ha said that adding space-based capabilities would provide a "3D" view of the threats.

Given South Korea's push to develop more anti-ballistic missile systems, gaining data from U.S. and possibly Japanese systems would help it detect targets, said Tal Inbar, a missile and space expert with Israel's Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.

"The whole region could gain a lot from cooperation and collaboration and interoperability of the systems," he told a briefing in Seoul.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-space-force-looks-boost-allied-tracking-north-korea-missiles-2023-08-30/

Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems Stand Ready for Responsive U.S. Space Force Mission

August 30, 2023

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif, August 30, 2023 – Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, and Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) small satellite constellation prime, have entered the hot standby phase for VICTUS NOX, a Tactically Responsive Space mission led by Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Safari Program Office. The team stands ready for the 24-hour callup and orbit requirements to complete final operations and launch at the first available window.

“Challenging missions like this is where Firefly excels, and we are extremely humbled and proud to provide the U.S. Space Force and the nation with the critical capability to launch on-demand in support of national security,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “Together with our mission partners, we’ll be setting a new standard, proving nominal launch operations can be completed in a matter of hours rather than weeks to months.”

Millennium and Firefly have entered a six-month hot standby phase and will wait for activation at an intentionally unknown time. During this phase, the U.S. Space Force will give the mission team an alert notification, kicking off a 60-hour window to transport the payload to Vandenberg Space Force Base, conduct fueling operations, and integrate it with Firefly’s Alpha payload adaptor.

Space Force officials will then issue Firefly a launch notice with the final orbit requirements. The Firefly team will have 24 hours to update the trajectory and guidance software, encapsulate the payload, transport it to the pad, mate to Alpha, and stand ready to launch at the first available window. Once the payload is deployed in low Earth orbit, Millennium will attempt to fully initialize the space vehicle in less than 48 hours and then begin operations for its Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission.

“What we’re doing with VICTUS NOX has never been done before, and I attribute our success to the dedication and teamwork of our collective team – Millennium, Firefly, and SSC’s Space Safari and Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) offices,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Millennium Space Systems. “You need to have the willingness to know that there will be changes – whether requirements or processes. That’s where the teamwork and close partnerships really came into play. It’s about what help is needed to address a challenge – on all sides – and everyone pitching in to support that.”

In preparation for the mission, Firefly manufactured and acceptance tested each critical component, engine, and vehicle stage for its Alpha rocket in addition to conducting a static fire to verify all systems operate within flight parameters. Firefly and Millennium also completed multiple rehearsals in preparation for launch, which included packing and delivering a satellite mockup to Firefly’s integration facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base to practice all launch operations within the prescribed 24 hours.

“The U.S.’s ability to rapidly respond to on-orbit needs is critical to our national defense, particularly in today’s evolving space environment,” said Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough, Materiel Leader for Space Safari. “The accelerated build time the team demonstrated for VICTUS NOX, combined with the demanding launch and on-orbit goals, exemplifies our strong commitment to preserving our nation’s dominance and ability to freely operate in the space domain.”

https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-and-millennium-space-systems-stand-ready-for-responsive-u-s-space-force-mission/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbIG0nzt03c