Artemis, the European Space Agency's Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite, has relayed optical laser links from an aircraft.
The ESA says the airborne laser links conducted earlier this month were established over a distance of 25,000 miles during flights at altitudes of approximately 20,000 and 33,000 feet.
Scientists said optical technology has several advantages for data relay applications, including the capability to provide high data rates with low mass, low power terminals using secure, interference-free communications.
The ESA said the optical laser link was the first between a satellite and an aircraft.
