Friday, December 09, 2005

Laser Beams Message Between Satellites

Maggie McKee writes in NewScientist:

Two satellites have become the first to exchange information from different orbits using a laser . The feat may lead to super-fast data-relay systems between spacecraft.

The laser link took place on Friday between two satellites designed to test communications technologies.

One, a Japanese mission called Kirari (Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite), flies at an altitude of 610 kilometres, in low-Earth orbit. The other, a European satellite called ARTEMIS (Advanced Relay and Technology Mission), soars 36,000 kilometres above Earth in geostationary orbit.

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