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Astrolight’s ATLAS-1 and Cailabs to demonstrate Space-to-Earth optical communications

Astrolight demonstrates space-to-ground laser communication link

Cailabs and Astrolight entered into an agreement to launch a satellite mission hosting Astrolight’s space-to-Earth laser communication terminal ATLAS-1. The mutual objective of the mission is to establish laser communication downlinks and thereby demonstrate pointing, acquisition and tracking capabilities at gigabit per second data rates between ATLAS-1, manufactured by Astrolight, and Cailabs optical ground station (OGS).

OGS-1 is the first fully portable optical ground station for laser communication with LEO satellites: all sub-assemblies fit into 3 Boxes that can be checked-in for a flight as a standard passenger luggage.

This mission will increase the technology readiness level of both Astrolight and Cailabs systems and pave the way for further commercialization of both products. ATLAS-1 is a demonstrator version of Astrolight’s ATLAS product line. Future versions of ATLAS will achieve even higher downlink speeds of over 10 Gbps. ATLAS design is optimized for Earth observation satellites with specific attention to small size and low power consumption.

Cailabs is a manufacturer of turnkey and multimission-OGS. Having a space-to-Earth laser communication terminal (LCT) for testing optical ground stations represents an additional means of validation for the company and its customers.

ATLAS-1 is the first generation of Astrolight’s space-to-Earth laser communication terminals with leading data rate and volume ratio in the market.

“It is a great example of two companies joining forces in order to achieve a common goal — implement an optical communication system that will overcome the bottleneck of space-to-Earth data downlink”, explains Laurynas Maciulis, co-founder and CEO of Astrolight.

“We look forward to demonstrating reliable and stable pointing, acquisition and tracking between ATLAS-1 and Cailabs OGS over as many passes as possible. This is a fundamental prerequisite for developing a commercial data downlink solution that will be useful to our customers. Space-to-Earth optical communication is challenging and most of the missions so far have failed just in this first step”, he continues.

“We are delighted to be working with Astrolight on this ambitious project. Few players today offer high data rate laser communication terminals with a small SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) for nanosatellites. Cailabs is pleased to collaborate with an emerging European actor in this field”, concludes Pu Jian, Chief Product Officer and Deputy CEO at Cailabs.