NASA streams first 4K video from aircraft to space station and back

NASA has achieved a remarkable feat by streaming 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International Space Station (ISS) and back using laser communications, a significant technological advancement. This breakthrough was made possible through tests conducted at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA's Small Business Innovation Research program.

Traditionally, NASA has relied on radio waves for communication with space. However, laser communications harness the power of infrared light to transmit data 10 to 100 times faster than radio frequencies. The goal behind this innovative method is to establish a reliable connection and provide live video coverage of astronauts during future Artemis missions to the moon.

To conduct these tests, engineers from Glenn temporarily installed a portable laser terminal beneath a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft and flew over Lake Erie. The data was then transmitted via laser to an optical ground station in Cleveland, followed by propagation through an Earth-based network to NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. From there, the signals traveled a remarkable distance of 22,000 miles to reach the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD), an orbiting experimental platform. The LCRD then transmitted the signals to the ILLUMA-T (Integrated LCRD LEO User Modem and Amplifier Terminal) payload located on the ISS. Finally, the data was sent back to Earth. During the experiments, the High-Rate Delay Tolerant Networking (HDTN) system, created at Glenn, proved effective in optimizing signal transmission, particularly through cloud coverage.

Dr. Daniel Raible, the principal investigator for the HDTN project at Glenn, hailed these experiments as a remarkable achievement with far-reaching implications. This achievement sets a foundation for various future capabilities, such as HD videoconferencing, enabling Artemis astronauts to prioritize crew health and activity coordination.

Each flight test helped the team enhance the functionality of their technology. Aeronautics testing presents unique opportunities to identify and address issues effectively compared to ground testing, proving more cost-effective than space testing. By establishing success in a simulated space environment, this technology can transition from the laboratory to the production phase.

According to James Demers, chief of aircraft operations at Glenn, the objective is to ensure that new ideas do not remain confined to labs but are tested in relevant environments. This approach ensures the maturity of technologies essential for improving the lives of people.

These flights contribute to NASA's broader initiative of streaming high-bandwidth video and other data from deep space, thereby supporting future human missions beyond low Earth orbit. As NASA continues to develop advanced scientific instruments to capture high-definition data on the moon and beyond, the agency's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program is actively leveraging laser communications to transmit vast amounts of information back to Earth.

Although the ILLUMA-T payload is no longer installed on the ISS, researchers will continue conducting tests on 4K video streaming capabilities from the PC-12 aircraft throughout July. The ultimate goal is to develop the necessary technologies to enable the streaming of humanity's return to the lunar surface during Artemis missions. This technological breakthrough opens up new possibilities for communication between Earth and space, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in space exploration.

Earlier, SSP told about NASA's Artemis II moon mission rocket core stage on way to Kennedy Space Center.