GoKawiilMIT Lincoln Laboratory's laser system streamed HD video from Artemis II mission
MIT Lincoln Laboratory, working with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, built the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O), which used infrared laser light instead of radio waves to send data from the spacecraft. During the mission the system downlinked nearly half a terabyte of data at speeds up to 260 megabits per second, delivering sharp footage of the moon's far side, a solar eclipse, and meteoroid impacts.
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Laser communication can carry 10 to 100 times more data than traditional radio links, a leap that could transform how astronauts share high-resolution imagery and scientific data from deep space. Proving this technology works in a crewed lunar mission strengthens the case for using optical links in future missions to the moon and Mars, where bandwidth constraints have long limited real-time communication.
- O2O used infrared laser light to replace slower radio-frequency systems from earlier Apollo-era missions.
- The system achieved speeds up to 260 megabits per second, comparable to home internet.
- Successful use during Artemis II demonstrates optical communication's readiness for future deep-space human missions.
Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope — After watching Artemis II's laser-beamed footage of lunar basins and craters, it's hard not to want your own look at the moon. The Celestron NexStar 4SE is a compact computerized Maksutov-Cassegrain that makes tracking the moon and planets simple for beginners and seasoned skywatchers alike.
See Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: technologyreview.com — Ariana Gaines, 2026-08-25
Published there as: “MIT tech powered the Artemis II livestreams”
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