Free space optics: Azora receives Artemis II signal from 386,000 km

Startup Azora used a portable ground receiver to lock onto NASA's Artemis II optical signal from 386,243 km, demonstrating deep-space laser communications. Free space optics offers higher throughput than radio and is immune to jamming, but remains vulnerable to weather; a new lab at the University of Suffolk will work on beam reliability.

• Azora received the Orion signal from 386,243 km using two 7 cm aperture modules
• The system had only been tested on a geostationary link at 35,406 km
• Honeywell's TOGS offers 1 Gbps to LEO and supports BB84 quantum key distribution
• Optical links cannot be jammed but are disrupted by adverse weather