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Tesat, a Germany-based company, has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide optical communications terminals for its Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites. This announcement was made by Tesat on October 26th.

Furthermore, Tesat has successfully completed ground interoperability tests for the SDA program. These tests involved demonstrating consistent data communication links with a reference modem and an optical terminal from another supplier. By passing these tests, Tesat has shown that its terminals meet the technical specifications and standards set by the SDA for interoperability with third-party products.

Thomas Reinartz, CEO of Tesat, stated that the successful completion of these tests signifies a significant advancement for laser communication technology, as interoperability is a crucial factor.

Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor responsible for building 42 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites, requires each space vehicle to be equipped with optical communications terminals capable of establishing at least four simultaneous optical communications links. Terran Orbital is tasked with building the satellite buses, while MDA is responsible for building the antennas and antenna control electronics.

Tesat is also offering its optical terminals for commercial constellations and has entered into a partnership with Kepler Communications for its Aether constellation.

This collaboration between Tesat and Lockheed Martin highlights the increasing importance of optical communications technology in the space industry. It not only showcases the capabilities of Tesat’s optical terminals but also signifies a significant step forward in the field of laser communication technology.

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