Laser-based space communication

(20min.ch, November 02, 2013)

NASA has been experimenting with the use of lasers for high-speed communication to space. Until now, data rates from spacecraft have been very slow, but the new laser-based system being used to transmit data from a spacecraft around the Moon back to Earth is able to achieve speeds up to 622 megabits per second. The same technology could be used to create an interplanetary Internet. Further tests will be conducted in 2017.