In a landmark achievement for Greek science, the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) has successfully established a laser communication link with a spacecraft nearly 300 million kilometres away. As Kathimerini reported it marks the deepest broadband laser connection ever recorded in space.
The pioneering test was carried out at the Kryoneri Observatory in the Corinth region as part of a collaborative effort between the NOA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA. A laser signal was transmitted to NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, currently en route to Mars. The signal, travelling at the speed of light, took approximately 16 minutes to reach the spacecraft and another 16 minutes to return—where it was detected by the Helmos Observatory’s state-of-the-art telescope.
“This is a groundbreaking experiment and a national distinction,” said NOA President Spyros Vasilakos. “It is the result of four years of intensive effort and strategic collaboration with ESA.”
The test forms part of ESA’s and NASA’s broader efforts to revolutionise deep-space communication, shifting from traditional radio to high-capacity optical systems. For Greece, the success represents a major step forward in its contribution to global space research.
“There are moments that move you deeply,” added Vasilakos, “because you witness a great leap forward.”
The experiment places Greece at the forefront of Europe’s ambitions in space-based laser communication, a technology that promises faster, more efficient data transmission across vast distances in the solar system.
