With reference to NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD), consider the following statements: The payload for LCRD is hosted onboard a satellite in a geosynchronous orbit. A laser uses infrared light and has a shorter wavelength than radio waves. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[A] 1 only

[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Notes:

Both statements are correct.

LCRD is NASA’s first-ever laser communications system.
Purpose: It has been launched to help demonstrate the benefits of space-to-ground laser communications also called optical communications.
Orbit: The LCRD payload is hosted onboard the US Department of Defense’s Space Test Program Satellite 6 (STPSat-6). It will be in a geosynchronous orbit over 35,000 km above Earth.

Laser communications and radio waves use different wavelengths of light. The laser uses infrared light and has a shorter wavelength than radio waves. This will help the transmission of more data in a short time.

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