SpaceX and the Optical Communications Revolution

SpaceX, known for its innovative approaches in spaceflight, is now eyeing the optical terminal market. This sector deals with laser communications hardware for satellites. At a recent conference in Mountain View, industry experts debated the potential impact of SpaceX’s entry. The company announced plans in March to sell its own optical terminals to satellite manufacturers. Companies that currently supply optical terminals, especially those focusing on government sales, seem unconcerned. They argue that SpaceX’s terminals don’t meet the standards set by the Space Development Agency (SDA). Gregg Burgess, from General Atomics, said they would simply buy a Starlink terminal if a customer needed interoperability.However, the broader satellite communications industry believes SpaceX’s Starlink constellation will shake things up. Justin Luczyk of Tesat Government sees Starlink as more of a competitor to SDA rather than other companies. SDA aims to enable communication between satellites in different orbits, while Starlink primarily serves as a data transport layer for numerous users. Inuk Kang from CACI Inc. explained that SDA’s mission extends beyond just communications. It involves creating a highly integrated network that supports various military operations. Robbie Robertson, CEO of Sedaro, emphasized that SDA’s goal is not just integrating their Transport Layer but also developing capabilities across multiple domains. The government faces a choice: either control the standards and technology evolution or let the market decide. Jeff Thornberg, CEO of Portal Space Systems, suggested that if the market dictates, SpaceX and Starlink could dominate due to their affordable launch access and numerous satellites in orbit.