NASA Selects SpaceX Starlink Laser Terminals for Artemis III Orion Communications

NASA announced on July 16, 2026 that it selected SpaceX to install two Starlink mini laser communications terminals on the exterior of the Orion spacecraft for Artemis III. The optical terminals will downlink 4K video, imagery, and mission data to Mission Control at Johnson Space Center at far higher rates than Orion's existing radio-frequency systems, giving NASA a live, high-definition view as the four-astronaut crew performs rendezvous and docking demonstrations with test versions of the SpaceX Starship and Blue Origin Blue Moon human landing systems. The award builds on optical communications experience gained during Artemis II and reflects NASA's broader push to use commercial satellite relay services for near-Earth missions.