Kuiper Constellation to Use Optical Inter-Satellite Links, Amazon Says

Amazon's two prototype Kuiper satellites have optical communications payloads, and the company has conducted multiple demonstrations of the technology involving 100 Gbps links over 1,000 km distances, Amazon said Thursday. It said the tests ensure Kuiper will use optical inter-satellite links for its production satellites, set to launch in the first half of 2024. All Kuipers will include multiple optical terminals connecting multiple satellites at a time, establishing infrared laser cross-links that form a mesh network in space. Amazon said mesh networks will increase throughput and reduce latency across the constellation.