Laser communication in orbit 2.5 Gbit/s Optical Data Transmission to Prevent Signal Loss in Space

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For the first time, companies are planning a direct optical laser link between a satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) and a re-entering spacecraft for the year 2027. This partnership sets new standards for European space logistics and presents exciting hardware challenges for the field of communications engineering.

Traditional radio communication quickly reaches its physical limits during space missions, especially during the critical reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. Due to the plasma gas layer formed during reentry, the telemetry link is frequently lost or severely disrupted. This is referred to as a radio blackout. For engineers, this often means a nerve-wracking period of flying blind until the capsule is physically recovered.

This is where laser communication—known as free-space optical communications—comes into play. It uses highly focused infrared beams that not only enable data rates up to 100 times higher than those of conventional radio, but are also less susceptible to typical interference signals.

While laser communication between satellites or from satellites to Earth (ground-to-space) has made great strides in recent years, the connection between a moving re-entry vehicle and an orbiting satellite is uncharted technological territory. For electronics developers and system architects, this means designing compact, vibration-resistant, and highly thermally resistant optical terminals that must perform reliably in the harsh environments of space and reentry.

PHOENIX 2 Meets ATLAS-X

Astrolight, a Lithuanian technology company specialising in laser communication solutions, and ATMOS Space Cargo, a provider of commercial cargo return services from orbit, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to close this gap. A joint demonstration mission is scheduled for 2027.

Astrolicht’s ATLAS-X optical terminal is to be installed both on board the LEO test satellite and on ATMOS’s PHOENIX 2 re-entry vehicle. The goal is to establish a real-time, optical space-to-space link and transmit system and payload data at a data rate of up to 2.5 Gbit/s. This will take place throughout the entire orbital flight, extending into the critical phase of atmospheric reentry.

Limited installation space and harsh environmental conditions

A key technical challenge in missions of this kind is the so-called SWaP profile—that is, size, weight, and power consumption. On board reentry capsules such as PHOENIX, communication components compete fiercely with the actual payload and essential subsystems for mass and energy.

The ATLAS-X terminal was specifically designed as a compact, low-SWaP solution to enable the integration of a high-speed optical connection into small satellites or capsules, even under strict constraints.

“Until now, this capability has mostly been tested only under laboratory-like conditions on Earth. Together with ATMOS Space Cargo, we are now taking it into space,” explains Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight. “Our goal is for re-entry vehicles to be able to connect directly with satellites and future constellations. This will provide operators with maximum real-time data, making control safer and more scalable.”

Strategic importance for Europe

Another factor behind the collaboration is Europe’s pursuit of technological independence in space logistics. To date, Europe has been heavily reliant on international partners to return cargo from low Earth orbit. Initiatives such as the European Space Agency’s (ESA) LEO Cargo Return Services Initiative aim to build up Europe’s own capabilities.

With growing commercial interest in space experiments, semiconductor manufacturing in microgravity, and the return of critical scientific samples, the demand for continuous telemetry is rising rapidly. Sebastian Klaus, CEO of ATMOS Space Cargo, emphasises the importance of the partnership: “As cargo return missions become more autonomous and data-intensive, seamless connectivity throughout the entire mission cycle is essential. Our partnership with ATMOS [Editor’s note: referring to Astrolight] is a crucial step toward firmly establishing laser communication as a strategic layer for payload monitoring and autonomous reentry within the PHOENIX system.”

If the demonstration in 2027 is successful, it is likely to not only increase acceptance of optical satellite links for commercial and mission-critical applications, but also set new standards for the reliability and data availability of future European space missions. (heh)