Laser communication

Laser communications from space have been researched heavily in recent years, with groups focusing on Earth orbit demonstrators, and satellite to satellite links. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has also shown the possibility to transmit data from another planetary body to Earth using a laser as the source. With laser technology improving and the increase in Earth based optical ground stations, laser communication could be a reasonable technology to be a major data link between the Earth and Mars. The new Starlink network being set up by SpaceX uses laser links between satellites to provide the required bandwidth.