China Reports Two-Way Laser Link Between Earth and the Moon

China has completed the first two-way high-speed laser communication link between Earth and the Moon, according to a report from People's Daily Online published Wednesday. The state-affiliated outlet described the achievement as a first for this type of data relay.

The report, which appeared in People's Daily Online on September 9, 2026, did not provide technical specifications, mission names, or the exact date of the test. It stated only that the link was two-way and high-speed, using laser rather than traditional radio frequencies.

Laser communication offers a potential advantage over radio because it can carry far more data per second over long distances. For missions beyond low Earth orbit, such as lunar exploration, this could mean faster transmission of scientific data, high-definition imagery, and video. China has been expanding its lunar program in recent years, with robotic landers and orbiters operating around the Moon, making reliable deep-space communications a growing priority.

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The claim from People's Daily Online has not been independently verified. No other space agency or international body has confirmed the link, and the report lacks details that would allow outside assessment. Still, if accurate, the milestone would place China among a small group of nations actively testing optical communications for deep space. NASA has previously demonstrated laser links from the Moon, but not on a two-way high-speed basis, according to public records.

What to watch next: whether China releases further data on the link's performance, such as data rates or the duration of the connection, which would allow independent experts to evaluate the claim.