Spy satellites make laser connection

Stefan Mileschin · 23rd May 2022, 06:55

No sharks involved

Two US spy satellites exchanged more than 200 gigabits of data over a distance of about 100 kilometers using lasers.

Spy satellites generally don't communicate directly with each other and never attend the same parties. Normally they play a game of Chinese whispers by using radio signals to transfer data down to a ground station on Earth, which then relays this data to the other satellite.

Optical terminals between satellites are considered to be faster and more secure, at least according to CACI International -- the company that developed the optical terminals for the space lasers.

The two satellites, named Able and Baker, were launched last summer by the U.S. Défense Advanced Research Projects Agency as part of its Blackjack project. DARPA wants to build a constellation of military small satellites in low Earth orbit.

The two satellites successfully pulled off the 40-minute laser communications experiment on April 14, during which time Able and Baker used CACI's CrossBeam free-space optical terminals. Infrared lasers transmit data by encoding the message into an optical signal, which is then carried to a receiver.

https://fudzilla.com/news/54880-spy-...ser-connection

23rd May 2022, 06:55	#1
Stefan Mileschin [M] Reviewer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Romania Posts: 152,474	Spy satellites make laser connection No sharks involved Two US spy satellites exchanged more than 200 gigabits of data over a distance of about 100 kilometers using lasers. Spy satellites generally don't communicate directly with each other and never attend the same parties. Normally they play a game of Chinese whispers by using radio signals to transfer data down to a ground station on Earth, which then relays this data to the other satellite. Optical terminals between satellites are considered to be faster and more secure, at least according to CACI International -- the company that developed the optical terminals for the space lasers. The two satellites, named Able and Baker, were launched last summer by the U.S. Défense Advanced Research Projects Agency as part of its Blackjack project. DARPA wants to build a constellation of military small satellites in low Earth orbit. The two satellites successfully pulled off the 40-minute laser communications experiment on April 14, during which time Able and Baker used CACI's CrossBeam free-space optical terminals. Infrared lasers transmit data by encoding the message into an optical signal, which is then carried to a receiver. https://fudzilla.com/news/54880-spy-...ser-connection

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
iPhone will not get a USB-C connection	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	8th February 2017 14:40
Everything You Need to Know About the Thunderbolt Connection	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	18th July 2015 09:43
PocketQube kits make it easier for amateurs to build their own satellites	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	18th December 2014 07:31
‘Killzone: Shadow Fall’ is going to make your internet connection cry	Stefan Mileschin	WebNews	0	1st October 2013 07:49
Victorinox SwissFlash Laser 2GB Pocket Knife with Laser (4.6027.TG2) Review	jmke	WebNews	0	7th February 2011 13:26
Victorinox SwissFlash Laser 2GB Pocket Knife with Laser (4.6027.TG2) Review	jmke	Articles & Howto's	0	7th February 2011 10:50
Internet connection	Bosw8er	Hardware/Software Problems, Bugs	27	24th December 2009 00:37
Use Laser from DVD Burner to build hand-held Laser Device	jmke	WebNews	2	9th August 2007 21:09
wifi connection	The Senile Doctor	General Madness - System Building Advice	11	24th September 2006 11:53
Is it legal to use someone's Wi-Fi connection	Sidney	WebNews	0	11th July 2005 12:12