NASA has selected SpaceX to supply laser communications for the upcoming Artemis III mission. This upgrade will help transmit high-definition video from the Orion spacecraft directly to Earth.
Image credit: NASA ScienceViewers on Earth will see four astronauts test docking maneuvers between Orion and commercial human landing systems. These tests are essential steps before returning humans to the Moon in 2028.
Image credit: NASA ScienceEngineers will mount two SpaceX Starlink mini laser terminals on Orion's exterior. Working alongside existing systems, they will downlink 4K imagery and live video to Houston’s Mission Control.
Image credit: NASA ScienceOptical systems utilize invisible infrared light to carry far more data per transmission than standard radio frequencies. This high-capacity beam allows massive visual data transfers from space.
Image credit: NASA ScienceNASA previously tested optical comms during Artemis II. Orion successfully beamed high-definition video, flight procedures, science data, and voice signals over laser beams back to Earth terminals.
Image credit: NASA ScienceThe mini lasers derive from more than 25,000 laser crosslinks active in SpaceX's constellation. SpaceX previously demonstrated laser comms for NASA during the Fram2 human spaceflight mission in 2025.
Image credit: NASA ScienceFacilitated by NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation team, this project advances an overarching strategy to adopt commercial satellite relay services for various missions operating near Earth.
Image credit: NASA ScienceAs preparations continue for next year's mission, testing these optical links will evaluate whether commercial relays can reliably deliver critical telemetry and real-time video during complex lunar maneuvers.
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