Aerospace Demonstrates Laser Communications Cubesats

Two Aerospace cubesats, AeroCube-7B and -7C, carrying its optical communications and sensor demonstration laser communication equipment, achieved data transmissions of 100 Mbps, Aerospace said Thursday. It said the laser communications demonstration is the first step toward using such technology in small platforms like cubesats instead of employing radiofrequency communications. It said the lasers were hard-mounted, and an altitude control system was used to point the satellite at the receiver. It said the satellites were launched Nov. 12 as secondary payloads on an International Space Station resupply mission.