Tag: optical communications
-
Elon Musk Says Starlink Could Carry Most Global Internet Traffic Within a Decade
SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said on September 23, 2026, that Starlink could carry the majority of global internet traffic within ten years, an ambitious forecast tied to the deployment of higher-capacity Starlink V3 satellites and proposed Starmind spacecraft combining broadband connectivity with orbital computing. The projection would represent a fundamental change in internet infrastructure.…
-
Space-Based Optical Communications Move From Flight Demonstrations to Operational Networks
Space-based optical communications are moving from experimental missions toward operational deployment as satellite operators seek higher-capacity alternatives to congested radio-frequency links. An industry assessment published September 20 said space-qualified laser terminals are now supporting data rates of up to 10 gigabits per second in orbital applications, while standardized optical inter-satellite links are becoming part of…
-
Cowboy Space Takes 291,035-Square-Foot Seattle-Area Site for Orbital Data Center and Rocket Production
Cowboy Space has leased a 291,035-square-foot industrial facility in Kent, Washington, to manufacture rockets and spacecraft for its proposed Stampede orbital AI data center constellation, giving the California-based startup a large production base near Seattle’s established aerospace workforce. Newmark, which arranged the transaction for landlord CenterPoint Properties, said the agreement is the largest industrial lease…
-
NASA Administrator Backs Solar-Powered AI Data Centers in Earth Orbit
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has endorsed placing artificial intelligence data centers in Earth orbit, arguing that space-based computing could draw directly on abundant solar energy while reducing pressure on terrestrial power grids, water supplies and land. Isaacman outlined the concept in an August 26, 2026, interview with Nexstar DC. He described the sun as a…
-
Why Inter-Satellite Laser Communications Have Become a Strategic Battleground for Satellite Internet
In the traditional satellite-to-Earth transmission model, satellites serve only as relay nodes: they forward information but do not process it directly, while ground gateways and terrestrial networks perform the core functions. With inter-satellite links, by contrast, satellites can transmit and exchange information directly without routing every connection through a ground station. Each spacecraft acts as…
-
This former hacker saw the light—and now wants to collect all of it
BLUEMONT, Va.—From an overlook in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dan Roelker gazed across the green splendor of the Shenandoah Valley. With the pleasant spring afternoon drawing toward evening, the Sun lazily crossed the sky, casting light all around. The pleasing environs had put Roelker, who was drinking rye whiskey procured from a…
-
You want your Moon landings in HD? So does NASA—here’s how it’s happening.
During most of the Artemis II mission, the crew of four astronauts beamed back low-definition video, both from inside the spacecraft and from exterior views of the Moon. It was exhilarating stuff, but in a world in which we’re all watching HDTVs, it also felt a little flat. This is because Orion largely communicated with…
-
ESA Awards Kepler Prime Contract for HydRON Element 3 Optical Comms
Why Did ESA Select Kepler for Its Critical HydRON Element 3? The European Space Agency has awarded Toronto-based Kepler Communications the prime contractor role for HydRON Element 3, marking a significant milestone in Europe’s push for sovereign optical communications infrastructure. The selection positions the Canadian smallsat operator at the center of ESA’s most ambitious laser…
-
Sophia Space deploys orbital compute on Kepler’s optical network
How will Sophia Space’s orbital compute nodes change space-based processing? Sophia Space will deploy its first edge compute nodes aboard Kepler Communications satellites in late 2026, creating a distributed orbital computing infrastructure linked by optical data relays. The strategic partnership announced April 13 represents the first commercial integration of dedicated compute hardware with an operational…
-
Rocket Lab Secures German Approval for Mynaric Acquisition
Rocket Lab said it has received regulatory clearance from Germany to proceed with its planned acquisition of Mynaric, with the transaction expected to close in April. The approval was granted by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, enabling the company to move forward with the deal as part of its strategy to expand…