The Smallest Satellite Optical Link in History: Spire’s Major Step Toward Faster Space Data Transmission

Spire, a space analytics company, have announced that they successfully completed a two-way optical link between two of their satellites. The milestone demonstrates the evolution in satellite communications. And with hacking events on the rise, the need for secure data transmission is more important than ever. Spire aims to continue its progress in the coming months by launching more satellites with an optical link attached. 

John E. Ward, Senior Director of Research & Development at Spire Global, said in a statement: “This achievement places us among a select group of organisations capable of developing and deploying this advanced technology and overcoming the complexities of aligning satellites separated by thousands of kilometers in Low Earth Orbit. Integrating this technology into our future fleet will enhance resilience, improve security, and reduce latency for critical applications.” 

Testing Spire’s Two-Way Optical Link For Satellite Communications 

In June 2023, Spire said they launched a satellite furnished with “optical inter-satellite link (OISL) payloads.” To complete the demonstrations – almost two years later – Spire shot laser beams that darted back and forth. Each satellite would capture the beam “securely and almost instantaneously, while up to 5,000 kilometers apart,” Spire said. 

Ward added: “Precisely pointing two satellites, across distances equivalent of New York to London, and establishing an inter-satellite optical link is a significant milestone for Spire.” Another milestone Spire achieved was shrinking the optical system, which is normally fairly large, Thomas Carroll, Spire’s Applied Optics Team Lead, said. 

Now the relay system is approximately the “size of a tissue box” and is said to be the “smallest on the market,” Carroll added. Why this is important is because Spire will be able to swiftly embed the system on their smallsats without compromising the abilities of a larger system. “This breakthrough has the potential to enhance our data and Space Services solutions, especially for applications that require continuous coverage with fast and secure data relay,” Carroll concluded.

Spire’s Optical Link Could See Greater Earth Observation, Communication & Data Transmission

There are many intrinsic capabilities of the optical link, including greater Earth observation capabilities and weather forecasting. Another value the laser offers is secure, quick, and less latency data transmissions. Finally, once fully operational, the satellite link could afford enhanced navigation and environmental monitoring via the amplified data transference. 

To achieve the feat, Spire teamed up with the European Space Agency, and acquired funding from the UK Space Agency. Now that Spire knows the optical link works, they’re setting their sights on launching another three LEMUR satellites. All of which will have embedded OISL capabilities. The launch is expected “no earlier than March 2025,” Spire said. Two of the satellites will be launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-13 rideshare mission. Spire also plans to launch an additional four LEMUR satellites to restock their orbital constellation. With a major footprint in the UK, especially Scotland, Spire’s optical link could offer more support to the UK’s space ambitions going forward.