LCRD: Ready for Lauch

Quick link to associated B-ROLL for the live shots.Quick link to canned interview with LCRD Project Manager GLENN JACKSON. In July 1969, the world watched as the first black and white footage from the surface of the Moon was broadcast to televisions. Now a new technology is about to transform how we see, hear and understand information we receive from space. On Sunday Dec. 5, NASA is launching the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) into orbit, which will revolutionize communication in space using technology that is already helping us here on Earth. LCRD is a technology demonstration that will be capable of carrying a lot more data back to Earth. How much more data? If radio waves can transmit 10 photos in a minute, LCRD could transmit 100 in the same amount of time. This technology demonstration could pave the way for the equivalent of high definition footage to be transmitted back to Earth the next time humans step foot on the Moon with NASA’s Artemis missions. Sunday’s launch of this technology is an important step in readying a laser communications system for an operational mission, such as at the Moon or Mars, as we can’t replicate the same conditions with tests on the ground.** Live interviews will be offered on Friday, December 3 from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ESTClick here to request an interview: https://forms.gle/Pou6JyrgbRLVhb8B9https://forms.gle/Pou6JyrgbRLVhb8B9Satellite interviews are not available. Please do not use an IFB unless necessary.*Spanish interviews are available*Participating experts:Trudy Kortes / Director, Technology DemonstrationsKathy Lueders / Associate Administrator for Space OperationsJason Mitchell / Director, Advanced Communications and Navigation Technology Division, SCaN ProgramTawnya Laughinghouse, Technology Demonstration Missions program managerChristyl Johnson / Deputy Director for Technology and Research Glenn Jackson / LCRD Project ManagerNidhin Babu / LCRD Deputy Project ManagerJeffrey Sheehy / Chief Engineer, Space Technology Mission DirectorateMiriam Wennersten / LCRD Ground Segment ManagerJavier Ocasio-Perez / LCRD Mission Integration Test Manager*Christian Rivera Rivera / Software Developer for LCRD’s Ground Segment** denotes Spanish speaking talentSuggested Anchor intro:NASA is launching a new mission that could revolutionize how we “talk” with future missions in space, including at the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida Sunday morning and is tasked with using lasers to communicate in space. Here to talk about it is NASA expert [insert name]Suggested questions:Lasers in space sounds like science fiction! Tell us about this mission and what it’ll be testing?What is laser communications, and what is NASA hoping to learn from this tech demo? Will the public be able to see the LCRD mission’s lasers?How will this new type of communication change how we plan to communicate with crewed missions to the Moon or Mars?Where can our viewers go to keep up with the progress on these efforts to revolutionize space communication?Questions for longer interviews:How are laser communication relays going to shape the future of deep space communication?Will this change how NASA’s communications networks are used? LCRD B-Roll Package [No Audio] Canned interview with LCRD Project Manager Glenn Jackson. TRT 3:05. Transcript is available under the download button.