July 26, 2022
WASHINGTON (Kratos/Constellations) — Inter-satellite communication is advancing as the industry moves toward larger constellations and a space layer that is increasingly interconnected. According to Northern Sky Research, approximately 85% of all satellites launched between 2020 and 2030 will be constellations. These satellites will not only have consistent contact with ground systems, but many will be communicating with one another directly. While satellite crosslink technology has been in use for decades by government and satcom providers, like Iridium, the proliferation of larger constellations has prompted investments in improved RF, microwave and optical inter-satellite links (ISLs) as providers work to make interconnected space networks a reality.
At the most basic level, ISLs transmit information at high speed to any satellite in the constellation, rather than mission data or commands being siloed in one satellite. Equipping each node to send and receive data, reduces the waiting time for a satellite to be in range of a ground station and gives operators more options to task a satellite closest to a downlink location, which enhances time-sensitive data operations, particularly in LEO. …
Read the full article: https://www.kratosdefense.com/constellations/articles/inter-satellite-links-are-making-space-networks-a-reality
