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Optics & Imaging · Recorded milestone

Optical interplanetary links

Recorded year2023

Lasers carry high-bandwidth data across the solar system.

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Built on

Information theoryRecorded · 1948requires
MicroprocessorRecorded · 1971requires
Space laser communicationRecorded · 2001enables

Led to

Laser-linked solar systemForecast · ~2081enables
Gigawatt laser arraysForecast · ~2088enables

Sources & evidence

Additional source

Dataset updated 2026-10-18. This individual record has not been separately re-reviewed.