Amazon to attach Kuiper web satellites with laser hyperlinks

Amazon will embody a key speed-boosting know-how in its coming Undertaking Kuiper web satellites, the corporate introduced Thursday.

Amazon says it examined the laser hyperlink tech efficiently during its recent Protoflight mission. Historically, satellites are restricted to sending information between a person spacecraft and the bottom. Laser hyperlinks join satellites to one another.

The Kuiper satellites’ “optical inter-satellite links,” often known as OISLs, function a method to transmit information via area. Laser hyperlinks are a characteristic that Elon Musk’s SpaceX began introducing in later generations of its Starlink satellites. The hyperlinks assist enhance each the latency and pace of those networks.

“With optical inter-satellite links across our satellite constellation, Project Kuiper will effectively operate as a mesh network in space,” Rajeev Badyal, Amazon’s Undertaking Kuiper vp of know-how, mentioned in an announcement.

Amazon’s pair of Kuiper prototype satellites “completed multiple successful” laser hyperlink demonstrations, the corporate mentioned. Throughout the exams, the Kuiper prototype satellites maintained hyperlinks that transferred information at 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) over a distance of practically 621 miles between the spacecraft.

“Because light travels faster in space than it does through glass, Kuiper’s orbital laser mesh network will be able to move data approximately 30% faster than if it traveled the equivalent distance via terrestrial fiber optic cables,” Amazon mentioned.

The corporate plans to incorporate laser hyperlinks from the outset in manufacturing of its industrial Kuiper satellites, with the community deliberate to consist of three,236 satellites in low Earth orbit. To date, Amazon has ordered 97 rocket launches to start deploying its satellites within the first half of subsequent 12 months. In full, Amazon expects to invest upwards of $10 billion to construct Kuiper.