Astrolight and ATMOS Space Cargo to test reentry-to-satellite laser link
Astrolight · ATMOS Space Cargo
The companies signed an MOU to demonstrate a 2.5 Gbps optical link between a reentry capsule and an orbiting satellite in 2027.
what happened
Lithuanian laser-communications company Astrolight and German space-logistics company ATMOS Space Cargo signed a memorandum of understanding to demonstrate an in-flight optical communications link between ATMOS's PHOENIX reentry capsule and an orbiting LEO satellite, both companies said August 10, per SpaceNews and SatNews. Astrolight's ATLAS-X laser terminals will fly on both spacecraft, targeting data rates up to 2.5 Gbps during orbital operations and reentry; the demonstration is scheduled for 2027 after hardware integration through late 2026.
why it matters
Radio-frequency telemetry degrades during reentry as the vehicle ionizes surrounding air, a known blind spot for cargo-return and human-spaceflight vehicles; a working laser link through that phase would give reentry-vehicle operators a path to real-time high-rate downlink that RF cannot currently provide, a capability with applications beyond ATMOS's own cargo-return business.
for who
In-space cargo-return and laser-communications suppliers
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- Astrolight, ATMOS Space Cargo
- Category
- partnership
- Impact
- notable
- SNR
- 4 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-08-10
- Published
- 2026-08-10 17:33 UTC