High speed data transfers send SES’s CEO to space, advancing meoSphere optical network

SES, in collaboration with leading space technology partners, has successfully demonstrated a bi-directional optical communications link between ground and space through its meoSphere Pathfinder 1 mission, marking an important milestone in the development of the company’s next-generation meoSphere network. The achievement validates a critical technology that will support future high-capacity, secure and flexible connectivity services.

During the demonstration, SES successfully transmitted video messages from CEO Adel Al-Saleh over a bidirectional optical communications link between Cailabs’ optical ground station in Rennes, France, and an SES payload flying on K2’s GRAVITAS mission on their Mega-class satellite platform. The mission utilized a Mynaric CONDOR optical terminal onboard. SES designed, developed, and operated the optical mission and developed automation software that enabled the demonstration. Thales Alenia Space supported system assembly, integration, testing and operations.

The successful demonstration reinforces SES’s ability to design, develop and operate advanced optical communications technologies that will support the evolution of its meoSphere network. By leveraging optical communications, meoSphere is expected to enable more flexible, resilient and secure data transport while supporting growing demand for high-capacity connectivity.

“This Pathfinder 1 achievement validates our vertically integrated, iterative approach to developing next-generation space capabilities,” said Carmel Ortiz, senior vice president, MEO Programs at SES. “Together with our partners, we have successfully and repeatedly transferred data between space and the ground, demonstrating the performance of optical communications in an operational environment. Each milestone brings us closer to realizing the optical architecture that will help power our future meoSphere network, delivering greater flexibility, security, and capacity for our customers’ most demanding connectivity requirements.”

Building on this success, the Pathfinder 1 team will continue testing to extend link duration, and push link speed and performance. These activities will help inform future Pathfinder missions and advance the development of the optical networking technologies that will underpin SES’s meoSphere constellation.