NASA tests new laser communication technology that could let us watch Live streams from Moon

Members of the DSOC team react to the first high-definition streaming video to be sent via laser from deep space on December 11, 2023 at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

NASA is making significant progress with a new technology that could soon allow us to watch live feeds from astronauts on the Moon. Recent experiments have demonstrated the potential of this advanced space communication technology, paving the way for developments in future lunar missions. NASA's efforts are leading us toward a future where live streams from the Moon could become a reality.

Space.com reported that this technology is already breaking records.

NASA sets new space comunication record with laser tech, says Lead Engineer

Rachel Dudukovich, lead engineer for HDTN at NASA Glenn Research Center, shared with the online publication focused on space exploration, astronomy, "HDTN has actually broken several world records and achieved some firsts for space in general and the United States," Dudukovich told the publication that recently, NASA successfully transferred a secure file from the International Space Station (ISS) at a remarkable speed of over 900 megabits per second. “We've demonstrated a secure file transfer from the ISS, which is the first time that's been demonstrated ever. We demonstrated over 900 megabits per second over the laser communications link from ISS, which is also the first time that's ever been demonstrated in space," Dudukovich was quoted as saying.

This new method works by creating a super-fast space internet using lasers. In a recent test, Space.com observed a plane communicating through lasers with scientists on the ground. "We address challenges of the environment such as long delays and disruptions caused by weather; the protocols that we use are specifically designed to meet those needs," Dudukovich said. "What we do is we store data when the link has been disrupted, and once it resumes, then we go ahead and we continue to transmit data. It's a buffering capability, essentially, at high rates," Dudukovich explained.

If the connection is interrupted, the system will store the data and resume sending it once the link is restored. It features a buffering capability to manage any disruptions. The HDTN system employs laser technology rather than traditional radio waves, enabling significantly faster data transfer.

NASA missions previously used radio waves for communication, but now, with laser (or optical) technology, they use infrared light. This shift increases bandwidth, allowing more data to be transmitted from spacecraft to Earth. The "store and forward" protocol helps manage data transfer despite time delays and distance variations.

Laser tech could revolutionize space communication with texts and video calls

Daniel Raible, an electronics engineer and principal investigator at NASA Glenn, told the online publication that this technology will allow astronauts to stay more connected with Earth than ever before. "We have protocols and standards that make a space network act like the internet we all enjoy with our connectivity," he said, adding astronauts could send commands, get data from spacecraft, and even exchange text messages, emails and video calls.

The advanced system also manages the significant time delays inherent in space communications. Raible noted, "The internet — which is large and spans the globe — with it, we're still connected within a fraction of a second of each other. Once you get out to the moon, you get beyond a second of time delay and, when you get out to Mars, it's a four to 20 minute time delay depending on where we're at. The software takes care of all that with the delays and the outages that happen frequently in spacecraft communications."

Milestones with Cat Video and 4K ISS transmission

The bar has been set for a while, with NASA teams making huge strides in laser communications since an experiment performed in December of 2023. After years of working on the technology, during this test, a video of Taters the cat was sent through a laser communications streaming service from 19 million miles away back to Earth.

The next round of experiments began in early June 2024, and featured connecting NASA's Pilatus PC-12 plane back to instruments at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland via laser link. Heading into July, the team historically sent a 4K video on a roundtrip journey to the International Space Station (ISS) from an aircraft.