World-first gigabit laser link between aircraft and geostationary satellite

Automated excerpt

The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus Defence and Space, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and German payload manufacturer TESAT (as subcontractor) successfully connected an aircraft to a geostationary satellite using laser communications, bringing people closer to seamless, high‑speed connections in daily life. During test flights in Nimes, France, Airbus’ UltraAir laser terminal maintained an error‑free connection while transmitting data at 2,6 gigabits per second for several minutes. The UltraAir laser terminal was developed through ESA’s programme for Optical and Quantum Communications – ScyLight – which supports research, development and evolution of optical and quantum communication.

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