Europe’s “fibre in the sky” ambitions are becoming real:

European Space Agency - ESA’s HydRON Element 3 brings Astrolight’s ATLAS-X onto a Kepler Communications Inc. spacecraft to test multi-orbit optical communications.

The question remains: who will own the standards layer of orbital data transport — agencies, primes, or the companies controlling terminal interoperability?

https://www.movetheneedle.news/technology/hydron-shifts-from-testbed-to-orbital-infrastructure/

#space #technology #EU #telecom #opticalcommunications

Lasers in Space!

Artemis II is testing an upgraded laser-based communications system called O2O >> Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System designed to send data down to Earth at up to 260 megabits per second.

O2O is about the size of a house cat and it uses more or less standard issue infrared lasers, Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, and receivers used in the fiber telecom industry. O2O develops approx. one watt of optical power.

Artemis II also uses traditional Microwave tech as its core communications system.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-artemis-ii-laser-communications-system-is-beaming-4k-video-from-the/ #NASA #Communications #Microwave #GigaHertz #OpticalCommunications #Laser #ArtemisII #Space #Moon #MoonMission #Orion #DarkSideoftheMoon

Optical terminals still a bottleneck in Pentagon’s proliferated constellation

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/optical-terminals-still-a-bottleneck-in-pentagons-proliferated-constellation/

Telesat eyes defense role with laser comms test ahead of LEO debut

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/telesat-eyes-defense-role-with-laser-comms-test-ahead-of-leo-debut/

Swissto12 to build small optical relay GEO satellite for Space Compass

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/swissto12-to-build-small-optical-relay-geo-satellite-for-space-compass/

Laser’s in Space!

The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) is building the next generation optical/laser based mesh network across hundreds of satellites in low earth orbit to provide highly secure low-latency communications and missile defense.

Check out the latest post in the TechApitude newsletter! https://techaptitude.substack.com/p/us-space-forces-laser-mesh-network #Space #TechAptitude #Satellites #SpaceCraft #SDA #DoD #PWSA #Optical #OpticalCommunications #MeshNetwork #Communications #Lasers

Laser-linked satellite networks moving from concept to capability

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/laser-linked-satellite-networks-moving-from-concept-to-capability/

Transcelestial to provide satellite laser communication terminals to Gilmour Space

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/transcelestial-to-provide-satellite-laser-communication-terminals-to-gilmour-space/

CACI to buy space technology firm ARKA for $2.6 billion

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/caci-to-buy-space-technology-firm-arka-for-2-6-billion/