Via Satellite archive photo (Shutterstock)

Space Systems Command selected CACI, General Atomics, and Viasat to continue development of space laser communication terminal prototypes . 

The awards announced Thursday are for Phase 2 of the $100 million Enterprise Space Terminal (EST) program. These three companies were selected to advance from four companies selected for Phase 1 in June of 2024, which culminated in a preliminary design review (PDR). Blue Origin did not advance to Phase 2. 

The EST program looks to develop terminals that allow for on-orbit crosslink compatibility among future Department of Defense (DoD) space systems. This is accomplished with a standardized enterprise waveform implemented in a long-range space optical communications terminal. 

SSC said “ESTs are a key building block of the broader space data network known as MILNET, which will build a space mesh network for resiliency and information path diversity.” 

SSC explained the three companies were selected based on cost, schedule, and performance factors, and these awards will build the industrial base for long range laser communications terminals. 

“The EST prototypes are foundational elements to the future space data transport network that we are building,” according to U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Jeffrey Fry, MILNET Program Manager for SSC’s Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power Program Executive Office. “The ESTs will implement a common waveform so all satellites carrying these terminals can talk to each other. This is important as the network of satellites carrying EST compatible terminals will provide diverse communication paths for data that is critical to our national security and our way of life.”

Viasat said in a release on May 13 that the company’s Space and Mission Systems team will mature the solution design, and develop and complete initial testing of a hardware prototype of its free space optical (FSO) next-generation space laser communications terminal in Phase 2.

“Developing high-throughput, secure optical communications will be a transformational capability for military space operations and the sharing of mission data in real-time across the battlespace,” said Susan Miller, President of Viasat government. “We believe our deep expertise delivering high-performance, flexible and scalable modems to government customers, combined with our experience creating integrated and interoperable technology solutions for multi-path communications, will enable the timely development of this EST terminal solution.”

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) said in a release that Phase 2 will include lab demonstrations of OCT subsystems within a government provided test bed. GA-EMS will continue design and analyses activities to optimize the system designs. Testing results and analyses will then be presented during a critical design review (CDR) at the end of Phase 2 period of performance.

GA-EMS completed the preliminary design of the payload support system, electrical hardware, laser terminal design, optical design and subsystem, thermal control, and command and data handling under the EST Phase 1 contract awarded in 2024. As prime contractor, GA-EMS  teamed with L3Harris for the modem subsystem and Advanced Space to provide performance modelling.

This story was updated on May 13