Laser Communications Terminal

Laser communication links support higher data rates with less size, mass, and power than radio counterparts, and they are more secure and much less prone to interference.  LCTs can facilitate broadband inter-satellite data links within or between LEO, MEO, and GEO; between satellites and aircraft or ground stations; and between almost any two or more objects.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s NFIRE satellite, built by General Dynamics, and Germany’s TerraSAR-X satellite were both launched in mid 2007 and each carried a Tesat LCT.  Flawless 5.5 Gbps bidirectional data links were demonstrated between these LEO satellites during each of their several encounters per day.