On August 10, 2026, Lithuanian optical communications company Astrolight and German space logistics firm ATMOS Space Cargo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to demonstrate an in-flight optical communications link between a re-entry spacecraft and an orbiting low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite.
Scheduled for 2027, the flight test aims to establish real-time, high-speed data transmission during orbital operations and atmospheric re-entry.
The joint mission will address traditional radio-frequency (RF) telemetry degradation caused by ionization and spectrum congestion during spacecraft re-entry phases.
Terminal Hardware Integration and Data Transmission Metrics
During the 2027 demonstration, Astrolight’s low-SWaP (size, weight, and power) ATLAS-X laser communication terminal will fly aboard both the ATMOS PHOENIX 2 re-entry capsule and an orbiting partner satellite. The optical link is designed to transmit system, guidance, de-orbit performance, and payload data at rates up to 2.5 Gbps directly to orbiting relay assets before physical capsule recovery.
Building on ATMOS’s prior in-space payload integration campaign, the PHOENIX return architecture uses a non-ablative Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD) that functions as both a heat shield and aerodynamic brake. Integrating compact laser terminals into the capsule allows operators to maintain continuous telemetry without adding significant mass or power demands to the return payload bay.
“Testing a laser link between PHOENIX and an orbiting satellite will mark an important first for re-entry communications,” stated Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight. “Our goal is to help re-entry vehicles connect directly with satellites and, in the future, satellite constellations, so operators can access as much data as possible in real time and make missions more controlled and scalable.”
“ATMOS is working to give Europe independent and routine commercial access to return from space,” added Sebastian Klaus, CEO of ATMOS Space Cargo. “Our partnership with Astrolight is a step toward integrating laser communication into PHOENIX as a strategic layer for payload monitoring, autonomous de-orbit, and re-entry operations.”
Demonstration Timeline and European Cargo Return Logistics
Following initial hardware integration and qualification reviews through late 2026, Astrolight and ATMOS plan to execute the orbital demonstration in 2027. The project aligns with broader European Space Agency (ESA) initiatives, including the LEO Cargo Return Services Initiative, aimed at establishing sovereign, reusable cargo return capabilities for European microgravity research, in-orbit manufacturing, and commercial payload recove
