As part of the collaboration, researchers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland are working with the university to prepare a cost-effective communications system designed to transmit data at far greater speeds than traditional radio systems.
Artemis II is the name of the mission to fly astronauts close to the moon in early 2026 in preparation for the final Artemis III mission that will return humans to the lunar surface the following year.
“Australia’s upcoming lunar experiment could showcase the capability, affordability and reproducibility of the deep space receiver engineered by Glenn,” said Jennifer Downey, co-principal investigator for the Real Time Optical Receiver (RealTOR) project at NASA Glenn.
The ANU team is building a replica of NASA’s RealTOR laser transceiver at the Mount Stromlo Observatory near Canberra. The unit uses commercial off-the-shelf parts and mirrors a model recently tested by NASA engineers in Ohio. The university’s system will be used to attempt to receive laser-transmitted data from the Orion spacecraft as it orbits the moon.
This transmission will not form part of the Artemis II mission’s primary communications network, but rather serve as a test of whether the commercial system can support future deep-space communications.
“Engaging with the Australian National University to expand commercial laser communications offerings across the world will further demonstrate how this advanced satellite communications capability is ready to support the agency’s networks and missions as we set our sights on deep space exploration,” said Marie Piasecki, technology portfolio manager for NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation Program.
The Artemis II mission, scheduled for early 2026, will be the first crewed flight in NASA’s Artemis program. As part of the mission, Orion will carry an optical communications system designed to transmit ultra-high-definition video, science data, images and voice communications back to Earth using infrared light.
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The ANU demonstration is supported by the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission Grant program. The initiative has funded the development of the Australian Deep Space Optical Ground Station Network, intended to build national capability in lunar and deep space communications.
Artemis II is currently scheduled to launch in April 2026 and will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Their 10-day journey will include flying 4,600 miles beyond the moon and back to Earth.
During the mission, the crew will evaluate the spacecraft’s performance, test its navigation and communication systems, as well as conduct experiments.
They will also perform a rendezvous operation with the Space Launch System’s upper stage, practising docking activities needed for Artemis III, now scheduled for 2027.
Australia is now a key player in the Artemis program, with NASA tasking the Australian Space Agency with creating a rover that will collect lunar regolith or moon soil that will eventually be turned into oxygen to support a permanent human base.
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