European Space Agency-funded projects reach new performance level in groundwork for optical LEO to GEO data relays

Telecommunications equipment company, TESAT, and fibre-optic technology leader, MPB Communications, successfully demonstrated a 100 Gigabit per second (Gbps) data at 40 Watts (W) optical output power over a distance of more than 45,000 kilometres, from geostationary (GEO) to low earth orbit (LEO) in a laboratory environment.

The projects were supported by German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Optical & Quantum Communications – ScyLight strategic programme line, as part of the wider Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme which sits within the Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate.

Today, Typical LEO to GEO optical links operate at data rates of 1.8 Gpbs at 2.2 W, mostly limited by available onboard resources and mission parameters. This new important milestone provides a promising, positive outlook for future multi-orbit connectivity scenarios, showcasing that European and Canadian industry are maintaining technological leadership in the optical domain and take the technology further. The 100 Gbps data rate is 1,428 times faster than the average UK household download speed, demonstrating the potential of optical communication in space.

Through partnering with ESA, industry is able to de-risk technologies such as this and stretch current technologies and trial new ones. These projects not only demonstrate tremendous technological leadership, but also provide societal and economic benefits for citizens and governments, from connectivity to secure communications.

Harald Hauschildt, Head of the Optical & Quantum Programme Office, in ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate, said: “Making partnerships like this, between TESAT and MPB Communications, is part of ESA’s core mission, to facilitate and make future technologies possible, developed and implemented in Europe and Canada. We’re proud to have supported the amazing teams behind this important step for the future of optical communications.”

The Optical & Quantum Communications – ScyLight programme forms part of the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications’ Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) kick-starts the development of new and disruptive technologies. The programme fuels innovation and supports European and Canadian industry to focus on the development of optical inter-satellite links, space to ground links, airborne optical terminals as well as optical ground stations and photonics for ultrafast optical communications.