STARLASE - Technology to Establish UK Leadership in Laser Satellite Communications and to Enable Mass Adoption of Optical Ground Stations

The STARLASE project will develop a world-first "multi-mission capable" high-power optical transceiver to address the global need for high-speed optical modems and high-power laser amplifiers to underpin the expanding Space Based Laser Communications market. This market is growing exponentially, forecast to exceed £3.4 Billion by 2031 and is fast becoming an essential part of global communications infrastructure

The number of satellites on orbit is projected to grow from ~5,000 to 50,000 in the next decade, the majority of which will use lasers for satellite communications. Laser communication will be used to move vast amounts of data in orbit and then to beam that data back to Earth, directly into existing ground fibre networks.

Laser communications will enhance security, reduce delays and augment existing radiofrequency-based systems. The expectation is that Lasercomm will help deliver wide socio-economic benefits to a global audience, many of whom do not yet have reliable ground-based internet access.

Large numbers of compact, portable, low-cost Optical Ground Stations (OGS) are critical to enable satellite-to-Earth data transfer globally because this guarantees that satellites can always see an OGS somewhere in the region of interest.The STARLASE project addresses the urgent need for low-cost, compact and power-efficient electro-optic modules that will enable a UK sovereign capability and global leadership in the rapidly growing Space Laser Communications market.