Space

Artemis II completes laser communications demonstration

The U.S. lunar mission Artemis II has demonstrated laser-based communications, showing data-transfer performance up to 100,000 times faster than Apollo 13, TechRadar reported. The optical system is aimed at handling large volumes of high-resolution images and telemetry expected from modern missions. Orion’s O2O system transmitted about 36 GB per hour, far above older radio links. NASA said weather sensitivity and ground-station requirements remain challenges.

World

NASA Artemis II returns safely, first crewed lunar mission in 50 years

NASA’s four-member Artemis II crew returned to Earth after about 10 days in lunar orbit, NASA said on April 11. The Orion spacecraft Integrity splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California, at 5:07 p.m., and all aboard were confirmed safe. The mission was NASA’s first crewed lunar-orbit flight in about 50 years and the first crewed test flight of the SLS rocket and Orion capsule.