optical communications
Competition is growing in the space-data-relay sector
Companies reveal plans for optical and RF data relay networks to address growing demand from satellite operators for high-speed data transfer.
DARPA selects companies for inter-satellite laser communications project
Eleven organizations were selected by DARPA to help develop laser terminals and technical standards to connect satellites in space.
Aerospace develops low-cost optical ground network
The Aerospace Corp. is establishing a network of remotely operated optical communications terminals to support existing and future small satellite missions.
Space Development Agency to take another stab at space-to-aircraft laser communications
SDA is seeking proposals for a demonstration of laser communications between orbiting satellites and aircraft in flight
Northrop Grumman demonstrates Mynaric laser terminals for military constellation
Using Mynaric terminals, Northrop Grumman conducted a ground demonstration of optical communications for the U.S. Space Development Agency's LEO constellation.
BlueHalo wins $11 million Air Force contract for laser communications terminals
BlueHalo won an $11 million contract from AFRL to develop a pair of optical laser communications terminals and a ground station.
CACI ramping up production of optical terminals for low Earth orbit satellites
CACI will deliver 40 optical communications terminals for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Blackjack satellites in low Earth orbit.
Mynaric selected by DARPA to design next-generation optical terminals
Mynaric has been selected to participate in a DARPA program to develop next-generation laser communications terminals.
Honeywell and Skyloom to produce laser crosslinks for military and commercial satellites
Honeywell announced Dec. 15 it has teamed with telecommunications startup Skyloom to produce optical crosslink terminals for commercial and military satellites.
Hedron, formerly Analytical Space, raises $17.8 million
Hedron, the company formerly called Analytical Space, raised $17.8 million in a Series A fundraising round.
SpaceLink hires OHB to build data relay satellites
SpaceLink has awarded OHB System AG a contract with an anticipated value of more than $300 million to manufacture four satellites for its commercial space data relay constellation.
HySpecIQ turns to BridgeComm for optical downlinks
Hyperspectral analytics company HySpecIQ and optical communications specialist BridgeComm announced an agreement to integrate BridgeComm's high-speed optical downlink with HySpecIQ satellites destined for low Earth orbit.
DARPA seeking satellite laser terminals that can talk to any space network
DARPA is asking for ideas on how to make optical inter-satellite links that can connect government and commercial space communications systems in low Earth orbit.
In-Space Missions wins contract for British military smallsat
British smallsat developer In-Space Missions has won a contract from the U.K. Ministry of Defence to build a satellite to test optical communications.
Analytical Space Inc. hires KSAT’s Monson and Velazco of JPL
Satellite communications startup Analytical Space Inc. has hired former KSAT Inc. chief executive Katherine Monson as its chief commercial officer and Jose Velazco, former technical supervisor for the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Advanced RF and Optical Technologies Group, as chief innovation officer.
DoD space agency to create marketplace for commercial satellite data
The Space Development Agency is looking to work with commercial operators of imaging satellites so they can send data directly to U.S. government satellites in orbit.
DoD space agency to launch laser communications experiments on SpaceX rideshare
A pair of cubesats built by General Atomics for the Space Development Agency will seek to demonstrate optical communications between satellites, and from satellites to a military drone aircraft.
Space Development Agency to add more laser links to satellites if the price is right
The Space Development Agency needs “affordable” optical terminals that can be mass produced.
Analytical Space wins $26.4 million to establish optical network
Satellite communications startup Analytical Space Inc. won a $26.4 million contract to develop and launch six cubesats and two hosted payloads to begin establishing Fast Pixel Network for optical communications.
Xenesis adopts revenue-sharing model for optical communications
Optical communications startup Xenesis is establishing revenue-sharing agreements with key suppliers.
