Lasers in Space!

Artemis II is testing an upgraded laser-based communications system called O2O >> Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System designed to send data down to Earth at up to 260 megabits per second.

O2O is about the size of a house cat and it uses more or less standard issue infrared lasers, Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, and receivers used in the fiber telecom industry. O2O develops approx. one watt of optical power.

Artemis II also uses traditional Microwave tech as its core communications system.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-artemis-ii-laser-communications-system-is-beaming-4k-video-from-the/ #NASA #Communications #Microwave #GigaHertz #OpticalCommunications #Laser #ArtemisII #Space #Moon #MoonMission #Orion #DarkSideoftheMoon