U.S. Space Force Taps Space Micro to Build GEO Lasercom Terminals

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Space Micro Inc., powered by Voyager Space, and a provider of digital, electro-optic and communications systems for satellites, deep space exploration and other space equipment, announced an award from the U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command for a contract to build a GEO-capable µLCT secure laser communications terminal. Under the contract, Space Micro plans to deliver a flight model to Space Force in early 2024.

This new award builds on an initial development contract the U.S. Air Force issued to Space Micro in 2019. This initial contract and subsequent modifications provided funding for Space Micro to update the current µLCT design specifically for this mission and to provide communications interoperability to existing systems. Space Micro delivered an engineering model to Space Force in late 2021.The µLCT Space Micro will deliver to Space Force under this contract will be a 10 cm system capable of providing full duplex GEO to GEO crosslinks at 40,000 km.

"We are happy to be able to provide Space Force high-precision laser communications terminals tailored for GEO missions, fully developed here in the United States" said David Czajkowski, CEO of Space Micro.

Space Micro offers a range of µLCT solutions for civil, commercial and defense applications. The µLCT can be used as an OISL (Optical Inter-Satellite Link), a spacecraft to ground link, or a spacecraft to UAV link.

"Space Micro continues to model what successful private and public partnerships can look like, and how impactful they can be not only for our own capabilities, but the broader industry as a whole" said Matthew Kuta, President and COO, Voyager. "We're so proud to see the team's hard work continue to be recognized." 

The news comes on the heels of an exciting 2021 for Space Micro, as the company recently announced an award from the Space Development Agency for a 24-month development contract for advanced one-to-many optical communications using Managed Optical Communication Array (MOCA) technology to support Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations. Space Micro was also selected by AFWERX, a U.S. Air Force Organization that works with commercial tech firms, to develop an air-to-space laser communications pod that could be deployed on military aircraft or unmanned drones to provide in-flight connectivity. 

Captain Charles "Aaron" Bolen, USSF PM, said, "We look forward to this development effort and its potential to increase lasercom capability for future USSF space systems."