Laser communication from space.

A new payload will be delivered to the International Space Station that will beam back videos and other high volume data. Instead of crowding up current communication channels this payload will send the data down via laser signal. This provides a test of a future method of communication to be used for large data volumes.  OPALS is a test case to show how this will work in real world conditions with atmospheric disturbances and short transit times. Universe today put up a bit about it.

Tags: ISS, laser communication, OPALS