• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • NEWS:
  • SatNews
  • SatMagazine
  • MilSatMagazine
  • SmallSat News
  • |     EVENTS:
  • SmallSat Symposium
  • Satellite Innovation
  • MilSat Symposium

SatNews

  • HOME
  • Magazines
  • Events
  • SmallSat Symposium Updates
  • Industry Calendar
    • IN PERSON
    • VIRTUAL
  • Subscribe

European space firms set specifications for optical links

October 9, 2023

Artistic rendition of successful optical data relay link between OICETS and Artemis. Image is courtesy of ESA.

Sending vast quantities of data between satellites speedily and securely means using light to communicate.

Now a group of space companies, research centers and universities working with ESA has established a series of specifications on how exactly satellites should use light to talk to one another – and to link to their ground stations.

To build satellites that can easily use laser light to communicate, manufacturers will need optical devices that can recognize and talk to one another at the high data rates that will be needed in the future.

By supporting and coordinating discussions between space companies, research centers and universities in Europe and in Canada – as part of ESA’s program of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems – ESA is helping to establish a set of specifications for ultra-high-speed optical links.

Called “ESA Specifications for Terabit/second Optical Links,” the initiative aims to foster the development of interoperable commercial products and services for optical high-capacity satellite networks, including their terrestrial components.

It seeks to extend available standards from space communications as well as terrestrial networks. This will enable space companies to integrate future satellites easily and seamlessly into terrestrial networks, as well as to develop and use commercial off-the-shelf components and software.

The approach gives industry a voice in preparations for the future and is similar to efforts by the Space Development Agency (SDA) in the U.S. ESA is coordinating 18 companies from eight countries to define a set of common specifications covering future optical communications in, and from, space.

Filed Under: Comms, European Space Agency (ESA), Initiative, News, Optical, Optical Comms, Optical Data Interface (ODI), Optical Intersatellite Links, Specifications

Primary Sidebar

Most Read Stories

  • In Their Honor ... Lest We Forget
  • ULA's Amazon Project Kuiper now set for April 28 launch
  • Rocket Lab confirms D2C ambitions
  • Russian satellite tumbling out of control
  • ULA's launch of Amazon Project Kuiper now is YTBD

About Satnews

  • Contacts
  • History

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Secondary Sidebar

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy
x
Sign up Now (For Free)
Access daily or weekly satellite news updates covering all aspects of the commercial and military satellite industry.
Invalid email address
Notify Me Regarding ( At least one ):
We value your privacy and will not sell or share your email or other information with any other company. You may also unsubscribe at anytime.

Click Here to see our full privacy policy.
Thanks for subscribing!