Starlink Engineer/Spokeswoman Confirms Optical Backhaul Operational on Two Satellites
September 3rd, 2020Wow. I thought that this capability was years away, even for testing.
Nope.
Via: CNBC:
Tice also said that the company recently conducted a test to see if it can connect two satellites in orbit with what SpaceX calls “space lasers.” Also known as intersatellite links, the space lasers would imporve the Starlink network by allowing it to exchange data in between the satellites in orbit, rather than beaming it back-and-forth to the ground. SpaceX tested two of the Starlink satellites in orbit that are equipped with the intersatellite links.
“With these space lasers the Starlink satellites were able to transfer hundreds of gigabytes of data,” Tice said.
She added that, once SpaceX has “space lasers” working consistently throughout the network, “Starlink will be one of the fastest options available to transfer data around the world.”
