NASA receives laser beam from 10 million miles away: 'First light'
FOX NewsDEC 1 2023
NASA Receives Laser Beam Message From 10M Miles out in Space
Image copyright: Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
As NASA missions progress further and further into space, the agency will need to build strong communication systems for astronauts to stay in touch with family from far-away locations. This laser beam reception is the next step in what could be astronauts' ability to engage in high-definition video conferences from places like Mars. This test was an exciting development for future human space-faring activities.
Narrative B
This test was a success, but global curiosity over space exploration doesn't mean we have to invest in the expensive technologies needed to send human astronauts millions of miles away. Earthly onlookers are just as excited to hear about robots on Mars as they are about the potential for a human landing — why risk continuing the trend of a 3% astronaut death rate when we can pursue the final frontier more safely and cost-effectively?