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Space-to-Ground Laser Communications Development

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This topic covers development of space-to-ground laser communications linking satellites to optical ground stations. As of October 8, 2026, Lithuanian startup has successfully commissioned its ATLAS-1 laser terminal aboard the ERMIS-3 8U cubesat led by the , connecting to 's HolOGS-1 station in . The achievement validates compact commercial laser terminals for small satellites and university-built optical infrastructure, marking a step for Europe's commercial space communications sector.

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Oct 8Latest

Astrolight Commissions Space-to-Ground Laser Link in Greece

On October 8, 2026, Lithuanian startup Astrolight announced successful commissioning of a space-to-ground laser communication link. Its ATLAS-1 terminal aboard ERMIS-3, an 8U cubesat led by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, connected with HolOGS-1, the optical ground station of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.

With no prior developments tracked, this establishes the first operational baseline for the topic. The link validates a commercial laser terminal for small satellites, signaling progress for European optical communications and university-industry collaboration.

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