NASA is partnering with SpaceX to equip the Orion spacecraft for Artemis III with a pair of Starlink mini laser terminals designed to operate on SpaceX's existing constellation network, potentially enabling high-definition live video transmission from orbit.
What Happened
The two Starlink laser panels will be installed on Orion's exterior and augment the spacecraft's existing communications systems. The capability is expected to provide greater data capacity from Orion to NASA's mission control in Houston. Artemis III is currently scheduled for the second half of 2027, with the mission keeping astronauts in low Earth orbit as they practice rendezvous and docking procedures with both SpaceX Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon spacecraft. This represents a closer-to-home profile compared to Artemis II, which launched in April 2026 on a 10-day mission around the far side of the moon. SpaceX previously demonstrated its Starlink constellation as a communication relay during the Fram2 polar orbit mission in 2025.
Why It Matters
The upgrade leverages technology from SpaceX's operational network of more than 10,000 Starlink satellites equipped with over 25,000 inter-satellite lasers. With Artemis III operating in LEO rather than deep space, communication limitations are easier to manage while still allowing NASA to test high-bandwidth relay capabilities that could inform future lunar missions. The success of this approach may influence how the agency approaches communications for subsequent Artemis flights, including the targeted 2028 moon landing on Artemis IV using Starship as the lunar lander.
The Bottom Line
If all proceeds according to plan, Artemis III astronauts will test next-generation space-to-ground video relay capability using hardware from a commercially available satellite internet network already serving ground terminals worldwide.