Europe is testing laser satellite communications via a new ground station on top of a mountain in Greece, aiming to provide faster and more secure connections than traditional radio systems as demand for bandwidth grows.
Lithuanian space and defense company Astrolight says it has put a new optical ground station into operation in Greece, which will support ESA-backed CubeSat missions testing laser communications between satellites and Earth. The Holomondas Optical Ground Station was built through the PeakSat project, led by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Ministry of Digital Governance of Greece.
Its job is to receive data from satellites via infrared laser links rather than the radio systems that space agencies have relied on for decades.
The PeakSat and ERMIS-3, two Greek CubeSats launched in March as part of ESA's broader Greek IOD/IOV mission program, both carry Astrolight's ATLAS-1 optical communication terminal.
Astrolight also built the ground segment, giving the project a fully integrated end-to-end optical communications installation.
The company says the station uses an 808-nanometer laser and a C-band optical receiver capable of receiving data at speeds of up to 2,5 Gbps. Unlike traditional RF systems, optical links use tightly focused infrared beams that are more difficult to intercept or jam, while also boasting significantly higher throughput.
Greek Connectivity Optical Ground Stations
The action concerns the upgrade of three Greek astronomical stations (Chelmos, Skinakas, Holomontas) into optical ground stations. The stations will support optical communications and quantum key distribution (QKD) functions, ensuring compatibility with European standards (EAGLE-1, SAGA, ESTOL).
The aim is to strengthen security and Greece's participation in international optical communications networks.
Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.
