LADEE Uses Laser Communications System To Contact ESA Ground Station

Ian O’Neill at Discovery News (11/5, 598K) writes that since October 26, the LADEE spacecraft orbiting the moon has been able to communicate with the ESA’s Optical Ground Station with its laser communication system. Badri Younes, deputy associate administrator for space communications and navigation at NASA Headquarters said, “The participation of the ESA ground terminal at Tenerife in NASA’s project is an important milestone in this new capability. … Together, we have demonstrated at the very beginning of the optical communication era the value of interoperable communication between our space agencies.”