SAN MATEO, Calif. - Sony Space Communications Corporation (SSCC) in San Mateo, and Astro Digital US, Inc. in San Jose, both in Calif., announced their agreement to design, manufacture, and launch two micro-satellites. Each satellite will be equipped with an SSCC optical terminal, designed to demonstrate high-speed laser communication links between the satellites and ground-based terminals. The launch is planned for 2026.
Sony’s work on space-based optical communication began with the Small Optical Link for the International Space Station (SOLISS) project, a joint mission with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) that successfully operated in orbit in 2020. This project preceded SSCC’s establishment.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Astro Digital on this important project," said Kyohei Iwamoto, President of SSCC. "As space exploration and travel continue to expand, the need for efficient and reliable communication becomes paramount. We firmly believe that lasers, with their compact size, increased speed, ability to transmit large amounts of data, and inherent high security (relative to radio frequency systems), will become the industry standard for communication in space. This collaboration with Astro Digital further solidifies SSCC's commitment to pushing the boundaries of space communication."
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Astro Digital, which will provide the satellite bus, will integrate Sony’s Lasercom terminal. "Sony's technology is poised to make a significant impact on the commercial space industry," said Chris Biddy, CEO of Astro Digital. "Astro Digital is looking forward to leveraging the flight-proven Corvus satellite bus platform to host and demonstrate operation of Sony's highly-capable Lasercom terminal on-orbit."
SSCC’s Lasercom terminals, based on Sony’s Blu-ray technology for precise laser alignment, are optimized for smaller satellites, offering a cost-effective solution while maintaining high performance and reliability.
