NASA trials beaming messages into space using lasers
Communicating with space stations and orbiting objects today makes 1980's dial ups look fast, this new upgrade will help NASA unlock even more of the universe's secrets.
Key takeaways
- For all of the agency’s technological prowess NASA still has a hard time sending data from distant space missions back down to Earth and vice versa, it’s part of the reason that images and footage from space are often so grainy.
- When the Optical Ground Station 2 (OGS-2), which will be built in Haleakala, Hawaii, is complete NASA expects to get an unprecedented level of detail from its research in space.
- In spite of that though NASA thinks the risk is worth it, if for no other reason that the new system will improve its data transmission rates by 10 to 100 times over their current radio systems.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2020) 'NASA trials beaming messages into space using lasers', 311 Institute, 9 September. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/nasa-trials-beaming-messages-into-space-using-lasers/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
As Elon Musk builds out his new global satellite communications network, Starlink, in the hope of one day using it to connect the world and communicate directly with colonists on the Moon and Mars, and about a year after NASA announced the development of a new revolutionary X-Ray based communications technology to help them boost Earth to Space communications, and the commencement of 3D printing spacecraft in orbit, NASA has now unveiled their newest communications system – an Earth to Space laser system.
For all of the agency’s technological prowess NASA still has a hard time sending data from distant space missions back down to Earth and vice versa, it’s part of the reason that images and footage from space are often so grainy. But now, with several new laser facilities coming online next year they’ll be able to beam messages up and down from Earth using infrared lasers which will vastly improve their network bandwidth, according to a NASA press release.
When the Optical Ground Station 2 (OGS-2), which will be built in Haleakala, Hawaii, is complete NASA expects to get an unprecedented level of detail from its research in space.
There are some drawbacks to using lasers over radio transmissions though. Namely, infrared lasers can’t penetrate clouds so NASA will only be able to communicate with spacecraft when the weather is nice – unless they opt to use their X-Ray system, and in the event of storms and rain NASA can still switch to an older facility, OGS-1, which is located in California if needed.
In spite of that though NASA thinks the risk is worth it, if for no other reason that the new system will improve its data transmission rates by 10 to 100 times over their current radio systems.
That means the possibility for new images of the Earth, other bodies in the solar system, and beyond in unprecedented levels of detail, giving scientists a brand-new glimpse of the universe around us that we can’t wait to see.
Source: Phys
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Communicating with space stations and orbiting objects today makes 1980's dial ups look fast, this new upgrade will help NASA unlock even more of the universe's secrets.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Sources and further reading
- a NASA press release phys.org
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 9 September 2020. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2020). NASA trials beaming messages into space using lasers. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/nasa-trials-beaming-messages-into-space-using-lasers/
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