Space-To-Space Relay Networking
On-orbit crosslinks and relay services (including optical terminals opened to third-party spacecraft) let satellites and crewed platforms exchange high-rate data continuously without routing through ground stations.
Developed mainly in: Canada and United StatesImpacting: North America, Europe, China and Rest of Asia
SpaceX reported a summer on-orbit test in which two Starlink satellites held a 25 Gbps optical link across roughly 4,000 km without touching a ground station. Each satellite carries three 1,550 nm laser terminals, the same wavelength as submarine fibre. The company is now offering third-party spacecraft access to the inter-satellite mesh.
This is one of 24 signals scored in our latest scan.
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First flagged
5 August 2026 · score 7.0/10
Corroborating sources since flagging
26
Latest signals
Tracked from 2 signals, each traced to its source.
- Orbital laser link sustains 25 Gbps across 4,000 kilometres, opened to external satellites
Gcn · 2 Oct 2026
- SES to enable communications for Starlab commercial space station
Computerweekly · 5 Aug 2026
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