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Tesat-Spacecom has announced that its laser communications terminals have successfully completed crucial ground tests for deployment on Space Development Agency (SDA) satellites. The SCOTT80 optical terminal from Tesat was chosen by Lockheed Martin, a satellite manufacturer working on the SDA project.

The SDA, a part of the U.S. Space Force, has plans to create a mesh network of interconnected satellites. This network will consist of a Transport Layer that transfers data collected by a Tracking Layer of missile-detection sensor satellites. Multiple laser communications terminals will be installed on each spacecraft, enabling the transfer of data in space using lasers.

The Tesat terminals will be integrated into Lockheed Martin’s satellites for the SDA’s Transport Layer Tranche 1 satellites, which are scheduled to be launched in late 2024. Lockheed Martin is also utilizing CACI’s optical terminals for the Tranche 1 satellites.

All optical terminals installed on SDA satellites must adhere to the technical specifications and standards set by the agency. They must also be compatible with terminals produced by other suppliers.

During the ground tests, Tesat’s terminal successfully established a data communication link with a reference modem, as well as with terminals from Mynaric and CACI. Mynaric’s terminal will be used on SDA’s Tranche 1 satellites manufactured by Northrop Grumman. This achievement demonstrates that Tesat’s terminals meet SDA’s technical requirements and can work seamlessly with third-party products.

The SCOTT80 optical terminal from Tesat has also been selected by Kepler Communications for its commercial constellation in low Earth orbit. Tesat-Spacecom, a subsidiary of Airbus Defense & Space based in Germany, is establishing a subsidiary in the United States to support military and commercial programs. The company plans to begin manufacturing optical terminals in Merritt Island, Florida.

To date, Tesat has 46 terminals in orbit and a further 180 in production.

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