Satellite offers many opportunities for greater connectivity in all walks of life. To help, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Astrolight, are collaborating to advance satellite connectivity. The partnership involves integrating Astrolight’s ATLAS-1 optical terminal into PeakSat, a CubeSat mission that must enable laser communication from low Earth orbit to ground stations in Greece.
PeakSat aims to establish optical communication links between LEO satellites and ground stations and is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 2025. Here we see a transition from traditional radio frequency-based communication to more advanced laser technology.
In this case, the main objective is to consider the operational performance of the Holomondas OGS, which will be done by testing various scenarios, elevation angles, weather conditions, and illumination environments.
Here is how this can help:
- Ensure precise alignment.
- Develop a scalable, secure, and efficient communication infrastructure.
- Enable higher data rates.
- Achieve better security.
- Have better resistance to interference
- Reduce spectrum licensing challenges.
Looking to the future, we may see more similar partnerships. Currently, technology transfer from academia to industry takes approximately up to five years. Such collaborations as one with Astrolight can speed this process up.