TESAT optical terminals chosen for GPS satellite demonstration by Lockheed Martin
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 10, 2024

Tesat-Spacecom GmbH and Co. KG (TESAT) and TESAT Government (TESAT Gov) have been selected by Lockheed Martin to supply SCOT80 optical communication terminals (OCTs) for a demonstration aboard a future GPS III spacecraft.

Following the successful completion of its Critical Design Review earlier this year, TESAT and TESAT Gov remain on schedule to deliver the flight hardware before the end of the year.

Justin Luczyk, Managing Director of TESAT Government, stated, "TESAT Government is excited to be part of an effort to deliver an optical communication terminal for a GPS satellite in medium Earth orbit (MEO)."

The SCOT80 terminal features an 80mm aperture and supports data rates of up to 100 Gbps. It meets the Space Development Agency's (SDA) OCT Standard 3.1 and offers a pathway to compatibility with future updates, including Standard 4.0.

Currently, 48 SCOT80 OCTs are operational in orbit, deployed through collaborations with various prime contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Kepler Communications, Inc. Notably, Kepler Communications recently demonstrated optical inter-satellite links between two Pathfinder satellites in low Earth orbit.

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