A laser satellite communication system which avoids atmospheric, wind and turbulence effects. A satellite or high altitude platform communication system includes an earth-orbiting satellite or high altitude platform carrying a laser communications receiver and an acknowledgement transmitter. A ground terminal having a laser communications transmitter which is caused to continuously transmit large data block signals. When one block of data signals is received at the satellite or platform, an acknowledgement signal is sent to earth from the satellite or platform. The ground terminal receives the acknowledgement signal and causes the ground terminal laser communication transmitter to continuously transmit the next succeeding large block data signals. This process is repeated until all of the data has been received by the earth-orbiting satellite or high altitude platform, whereby all of the large data block signals are received by the laser communication receiver through scintillation windows in the atmosphere.