2U laser communication terminal for CubeSats and small satellites delivering >10× higher throughput than RF solutions. Flight-proven on SpaceX Transporter-2.
LaserCube Laser Communication Terminal
2U laser communication terminal for CubeSats and small satellites delivering >10× higher throughput than RF solutions. Flight-proven on SpaceX Transporter-2.
Description
LaserCube is Stellar Project's patented miniature laser communication terminal designed for CubeSats and small satellites. In a compact 2U form factor (100 × 100 × 200 mm, 2 kg), it delivers data throughput performance more than 10 times that of state-of-the-art radiofrequency solutions, enabling high-speed optical links for Earth observation, telecommunications, IoT, and machine-to-machine applications.
The design features a patent-pending coarse pointing system that compensates for satellite attitude variations without requiring precise attitude control, making it compatible with a wide range of satellite bus configurations. LaserCube supports two mission configurations: an intersatellite link variant (up to two full-duplex optical channels) and a downlink variant (one transmit optical channel). The optical communication link is inherently secure against interception and has no frequency band licensing restrictions.
LaserCube achieved its maiden flight on June 30, 2021, aboard a SpaceX Transporter-2 rideshare mission as a hosted payload on D-Orbit's ION Satellite Carrier. Stellar Project participates in the Horizon 2020 QUANGO project (CubeSat for Quantum & 5G communications), the IRIDE programme, and ESA and ASI initiatives. The company also offers a consultancy service for orbital debris risk analysis based on the same space environment modelling expertise.
Specifications
| Form factor | 2U (100 × 100 × 200 mm) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 2 kg |
| Throughput improvement | > 10× vs RF state-of-the-art |
| Configurations | ISL (up to 2 full-duplex channels) or downlink (1 TX channel) |
| Pointing system | Patent-pending coarse pointing, no fine pointing required |
| Security | Inherently secure against interception |
| Licensing | No frequency band restrictions |
| Flight heritage | Maiden flight June 30, 2021 on SpaceX Transporter-2 (D-Orbit ION Satellite Carrier) |
| TRL | 9 (flight-proven) |