During most of the Artemis II mission, the crew transmitted low-definition video from their spacecraft and lunar views. It was thrilling but felt a bit lacking in a world where HD has become the norm.

This is because Orion relied on radio waves for communication with Earth, much like its Apollo predecessors did decades ago. However, the astronauts periodically sent batches of higher-resolution data, including stunning photographs of the far side of the Moon and a Solar eclipse observed from there. This breakthrough was made possible through optical laser communications, which could potentially revolutionize how we receive data from space.

Laser comms enabled speeds up to 260 Mbps, meaning a full HD movie could have been transmitted in seconds. However, this did not happen due to the experimental nature of the system and NASA’s limited ground stations capable of receiving these signals—just two in the US and one in Australia.

Artemis II shows us that high-resolution space exploration is possible, but for now, we must be patient as technology advances. The next mission may just bring us closer to seeing our celestial neighbour in all its glory.