Focus: Optical Communications

NASA’s TBIRD mission recently achieved a record for optical communications in space. The satellite downlinked 1.4 terabytes of data over laser communications links in a single pass that lasted about...

SpaceX is venturing into Earth observation (EO) and hosted payloads for national security use, with a new business line called Starshield. The company added a section to its website for...

NASA has awarded Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) and SpaceLink separate contracts to study near-space communications that would support future Artemis missions to the Moon.   NASA Goddard Space Flight Center announced the...

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on Wednesday selected 11 teams to advance development of low-power, low-weight, low-cost and interoperable technologies to create new datalinks to allow for seamless...

Kepler Communications has selected Tesat-Spacecom optical inter-satellite links for its next generation of satellites. The Tesat constellation laser communication terminals, ConLCT80, will be installed on Kepler’s first tranche of Aether...

Sony Group Corporation announced Friday that it is launching a new company focused on optical communications in space. The new venture, Sony Space Communications Corporation (SSC), is a subsidiary of...

Airbus Americas Vice President of Research and Technology Amanda Simpson confirmed Friday that the manufacturer is conducting research on inter- and intra-satellite optical link technology with universities in California. During...

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced the development of what it says is the first optical receiver for laser communication terminals that integrates spatial laser acquisition in the photodetector.  The company said...

CACI International Inc demonstrated space-to-space optical communications links in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) as part of the Mandrake II mission. CACI announced the tests Tuesday, in partnership with the Defense Advanced...

A new deal between Mynaric and Airbus U.S. Space & Defense will test Mynaric’s laser communication terminal on the International Space Station.  Mynaric will be a customer on the Airbus-operated...