2023-07-14 13:45:26
Currently, satellites use radio frequencies to transmit data, but their capacity is limited. However, lasers can transmit 1,000 times more data per second than radio frequencies, and much more securely.
Scientists at the University of Northumbria in the UK have been leading a consortium whose goal is to develop the world’s first commercially available system that allows satellites to communicate with each other using lasers instead of radio frequencies.
Among these scientists is Robert Wicks, Head of the Space Technology Laboratory at Northumbria University and responsible for the development of some CubeSats in which the new system will be tested.
The consortium has recently been expanded to include the Lockheed Martin aerospace company. This company will lead the engineering development of the system.
The UK Space Agency funds the development of the system.
Now the consortium has started to design, build and test the first two CubeSats equipped with the new laser technology for optical telecommunications.
Artist’s impression of two satellites communicating with each other via laser in space, and one of them also communicating with a station on the ground. (Illustration: Northumbria University)
If all goes well, these two CubeSats will be launched into space in 2025.
Once verified to work properly in orbit, the inter-satellite laser communication system could become the first of its kind commercially available. (Source: NCYT from Amazings)
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