- Artemis II generates volumes of data that legacy systems cannot handle efficiently
- Laser communications transmit much more data than traditional radio systems.
- Infrared light enables high-speed space communication over great distances
The large volume of data generated during modern lunar missions has left older radio systems almost obsolete.
Artemis II was expected to produce between 300 GB and more than 400 GB of high-resolution imagery and telemetry by the end of the mission.
By comparison, the Apollo 13 mission operated with a fraction of that capability, and the difference isn’t just incremental: It’s a fundamental overhaul in the way spacecraft communicate with Earth.
Article continues below.
The engineering change that made the jump possible
Traditional radio frequencies couldn’t move as much information fast enough, so engineers turned to a completely different method: laser communications.
Laser communications are based on invisible infrared light, which travels at the same speed as radio waves but carries much more information.
Because infrared light has a higher frequency, it can include more data in each transmission, and the Orion Artemis II optical communications (O2O) system demonstrated the ability to transmit more than 100 GB of data.
This system could move approximately 36 GB in a single hour, outperforming traditional radio systems in S-band, which could only manage about 7 GB per day.
NASA noted that “more data means more discoveries,” although the practical benefits to crew safety and real-time decision making have not yet been fully demonstrated.
However, this system had its earthly limitations and any weather disturbance could disrupt the flow of information.
Ground station telescopes at NASA’s White Sands Complex in New Mexico and the Table Mountain Facility in California had to operate in high, dry environments with minimal cloud cover to maintain a strong laser link.
Still, the O2O terminal, which comprises a 4-inch telescope, two gimbals, a modem and a controller, underwent multi-day readiness checks.
A NASA official described the achievement as “an impressive leap” forward, but the system was not used on Artemis III, raising questions about the pace of adoption.
While a 100,000-fold improvement over Apollo 13 sounds extraordinary, the comparison deserves a closer look.
The Apollo 13 radio systems were designed in the 1960s and modern radio technology has also improved considerably.
The real test will be whether laser communications prove reliable over deep space distances without frequent interventions from ground stations.
The Australian National University attempted to host O2O laser links using affordable commercial components, a demonstration that could validate or undermine scalability claims.
For now, the numbers are impressive, but space history is littered with promising technologies that ran into problems outside of controlled conditions.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
