ARLINGTON, Va. — Two SpaceX-built satellites successfully exchanged data using optical communications terminals in a milestone for the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA), the agency’s director Derek Tournear said Sept. 4.
The satellites, part of SDA’s Tranche 0 experimental spacecraft in low Earth orbit, used laser terminals manufactured by Tesat-Spacecom to communicate. This marks the first time the agency has demonstrated laser communications in space using optical terminals compliant with military standards required for SDA satellites.
“We had not previously demonstrated laser communications,” Tournear said at a DefenseNews conference. He reported that the data exchange occurred on September 3, with the satellites establishing a connection in under 100 seconds and maintaining it for several hours.
The successful test involved two of four SpaceX satellites equipped with Leidos infrared sensors and Tesat terminals. Tesat-Spacecom, a Germany-based subsidiary of Airbus Defense and Space, has expanded its U.S. presence to support growing demand for optical communication technologies from SDA.
This demonstration addressed doubts about SDA satellites’ ability to form an optical network in low Earth orbit. It follows a 2021 test conducted with the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which used different optical terminals that did not comply with the current standard required by the SDA, making the recent test even more significant.
Crucial step for SDA’s mesh network
The laser communications test is a crucial step in SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) program. PWSA aims to create a network of hundreds of small satellites to enhance military communication and surveillance capabilities.
Tournear also noted that all four SpaceX satellites have successfully detected missile launches with their infrared sensors, including SpaceX’s Starship reentry in June.
In addition to the laser communications breakthrough, Tournear highlighted a late 2023 demonstration of Link 16 network entry from space, using satellites made by York Space. This test involved transmitting tactical messages from orbit to ground-based receivers, highlighting the potential for enhanced military communications through space-based platforms.
The Tranche 0 deployment included satellites from SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, York Space and L3Harris.
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