Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration

The LLCD pulsed laser system conducted a successful test on October 18, 2013, transmitting data between the spacecraft and its ground station on Earth at a distance of 385,000 kilometres (239,000 mi).

It was NASA's first attempt at two-way space communication using an optical laser instead of radio waves.

It is expected to lead to operational laser systems on future NASA satellites.

The next iteration of the concept will be the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration scheduled for 2017.

[1] Also, it has been proposed as payload for the Phobos And Deimos & Mars Environment (PADME) orbiter.