- NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver laser communications capabilities for the Artemis III mission.
- Two Starlink mini laser terminals will be installed on Orion to downlink 4K imagery and video.
- Laser communications use infrared light to transmit more data than traditional radio frequency systems.
- This builds on a previous optical communications demonstration during Artemis II.
- SpaceX first demonstrated laser capabilities for NASA during the 2025 Fram2 mission.
- The technology is based on over 25,000 lasers already operating in the Starlink constellation.
- The demonstration advances NASA's strategy to commercialize satellite relay services.