General Atomics from the US and Kepler Communications from Canada have successfully tested high-speed laser communication between an aircraft and a satellite.<\/p>\n
This achievement is an effective step towards creating secure and fast data connections for military and commercial users.<\/p>\n
A General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) was tested on a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter plane.<\/p>\n
It is connected to a Kepler satellite located in low Earth orbit. The satellite was almost 3,400 miles away and is compatible with the US Space Development Agency\u2019s (SDA) Tranche 0 architecture.<\/p>\n
The system transmitted data at up to 1 gigabit per second, validating a key element of the Pentagon\u2019s proliferated space network.<\/p>\n
World\u2019s first air-to-space laser link\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBy pairing Kepler\u2019s on-orbit optical capabilities with GA-EMS\u2019 OCT, we\u2019ve shown what\u2019s possible when space and aviation systems work seamlessly together,\u201d said Robert Conrad, president of Kepler US.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis reinforces how commercial space operators will be partners in delivering secure, high-throughput connectivity for the defense community and the broader commercial sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
Optical communications, already the backbone of terrestrial fiber-optic networks, are far more challenging in free space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Transmitting data from a moving platform in Earth\u2019s atmosphere to a high-speed receiver in orbit requires precise pointing, acquisition, tracking, and lock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
General Atomics mounted its 10-watt OCT in a 12-inch Laser Airborne Communication Turret (LAC-12) developed by its Aeronautical Systems division for precision pointing.<\/p>\n
According to GA-EMS, the OCT is designed to handle distances up to 5,500 kilometers (2,970 nautical miles) with maximum data rates of 2.5 gigabits per second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In this initial proof-of-concept, the transmission distance was much shorter, but the test verified secure uplink and downlink capability and proved interoperability between hardware from different vendors.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur OCT is designed to close a communications gap, enabling secure, robust data transfers to support tactical and operational missions,\u201d said Scott Forney, GA-EMS president.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe airborne OCT completed pointing, acquisition, tracking, and lock with the Tranche 0-compatible satellite, then transferred data packets to validate uplink and downlink capability.\u201d<\/p>\n
From sky to space<\/p>\n
The SDA is building a proliferated low-Earth-orbit constellation to provide resilient global connectivity for military forces.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The agency has issued an optical communications standard that allows systems from multiple contractors to interoperate, which officials say is critical to building a distributed, survivable architecture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis successful space-airborne communication demonstration represents a breakthrough improvement in building a resilient space architecture,\u201d said<\/a> Gurpartap \u201cGP\u201d Sandhoo, SDA deputy director.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAchieving multi-vendor interoperability validates SDA\u2019s leadership in the optical communication arena.\u201d<\/p>\n