Science continues to push back the limits of the impossible. In 2025, a major technological breakthrough was achieved: a laser was able to reach the Moon in daylight, a first in the history of space exploration. This feat, which once seemed the stuff of science fiction, is now opening up new horizons for communication and astronomical observation.
Researchers the world over are marvelling at this achievement, which testifies to the lightning progress made in optical technologies. Discover how this innovation could transform our understanding of the universe and revolutionize future space missions.
China’s revolutionary daylight Earth-Moon laser telemetry experiment
China recently achieved a major breakthrough in laser telemetry, successfully sending a laser beam 130,000 km to a satellite orbiting the Moon, and doing so in broad daylight. This feat, orchestrated by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) with the Tiandu-1 satellite, marks the first successful Earth-Moon laser telemetry launch under bright sunshine.
Traditionally limited to night-time windows due to solar noise, these precise measurements open up new prospects for future space missions. By overcoming the technical challenges of precision and light interference, this experiment promises to significantly improve the tracking of deep-space missions.
Implications for future space missions and the Queqiao network
Innovation in daytime laser telemetry could transform space mission tracking, offering increased accuracy and improved measurement frequency. By enabling readings to be taken at any time, this technology multiplies the opportunities for collecting orbital data, crucial for navigation and communication in deep space.
The Queqiao network, essential to China’s lunar ambitions, will benefit from these advances. It aims to provide seamless communications and autonomous navigation for lunar missions, including manned landings planned by 2030. This enhanced capability will also support the construction of the International Lunar Research Station, consolidating China’s permanent presence on the Moon.
Future projects and international collaborations
China is pursuing its lunar ambitions with bold projects, such as the launch of Chang’e-6, which recently brought back samples from the dark side of the Moon. The Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) plans to extend daylight laser ranging tests to longer distances, integrating this technology into routine space operations.
In parallel, the Chang’e-8 mission, scheduled for 2028, will see collaboration with Russia to explore alternative energy sources, including a small nuclear reactor, for the future lunar research station. China is also developing a space traffic management system to anticipate the increase in the number of satellites in low-Earth orbit.
