&lt;p&gt;The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration project will advance optical communications technology, expanding industry&amp;rsquo;s capability to produce competitive, high-value optical communications systems and components. A hosted payload with two optical-communications space terminals and associated electronics will fly to geosynchronous Earth orbit on a commercial spacecraft, where it will communicate with ground stations. The technology also will enable communications with other spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. Launch is planned for 2018 in partnership with NASA&amp;rsquo;s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program, with expectations to implement the LCRD technology and concepts in next- generation space communication relays.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; LCRD: Key Mission Facts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration mission is NASA&amp;rsquo;s first, long-duration optical communications mission.&lt;br /&gt;- The demonstration will use lasers to encode and transmit data at rates 10-to-100-times faster than radio -- or at the same data rate as today&amp;#39;s fastest RF radios, but using significantly less mass and power.&lt;br /&gt;- The project will help mature concepts and deliver technologies applicable to both near-Earth and deep-space communication network missions.&lt;br /&gt;- The investigation will enable a variety of robust future science and exploration missions -- providing a higher data rate, and delivering more accurate navigation capabilities with reduced size, weight and power requirements.&lt;/p&gt;