Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Laser for Satellite to Satellite Communications

Posted by michael on from the doubles-as-death-ray dept.

heby writes: "Last night ESA successfully tested the first laser link between two satellites (SPOT 4 and Artemis). SPOT 4 is supposed to serve as a data communications relay between Artemis and the receiving station in Toulouse. The link is running at 50Mbps and the two satellites are currently orbiting at 832km and 31000km respectively.
According to ESA "The main challenge in establishing an optical link between satellites is to point a very narrow beam with extreme accuracy to illuminate the partner spacecraft flying at a speed of 7000 m/s." Way to go, ESA!"

2 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. First Troll! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Yeah

  2. Stephen King, author, dead at 55 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll


    I just heard some sad news on talk radio - Horror/Sci Fi writer Stephen King was found dead in his Maine home this morning. There weren't any more details. I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will miss him - even if you didn't enjoy his work, there's no denying his contributions to popular culture. Truly an American icon.