In an age where CEOs can take to space in questionably shaped spacecraft, the demand for fast, reliable communications (so we can be reminded of how much money each minute burns) is growing.
Electro Optic Systems (ASX: EOS) subsidiary company SpaceLink does just that. The Company has been selected by the Centre for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), who manage the International Space Station (ISS) US National Laboratory, to undertake a funded demonstration of their proprietary communication system.
The system allows for real-time voice, video and data exchange between the ISS crew, on board systems and Earth based folk below. The funded demonstration will validate the technology’s capabilities and open SpaceLink up to future commercial collaborations.
The selection of SpaceLink’s tech was the culmination of many years of work making their tech stand out through the highly competitive selection process. CASIS is constantly looking for technology development concepts capable of being used in low Earth orbit and invites companies and research teams to bring their ideas forward.
SpaceLink CEO, David Bettinger said: “Our demonstration on the ISS is the first step to proving SpaceLink’s capabilities to advance space science and the emerging space economy. Funding from CASIS marks an important minestrone in SpaceLink’s roadmap to providing massive bandwidth for organisations that need real-time connectivity between space and the ground.”
Glen Tindall, CEO of EOS Communications Systems commented too, saying: “Working with CASIS to put optical communications on the ISS is a major milestone for SpaceLink and for the future of the global satellite communications market. It is also a landmark agreement for EOS as Australia’s largest space company and supports our vision for optical communications to serve our major customers in both the US and Australia.”
Planning for the project has commenced with a program schedule and milestone targets to be completed in the next few months. The demonstration of the tech is expected to commence in 2024.
Samantha Freidin is a business journalist at Emerald Financial whilst also completing a Masters of Marketing and Digital Communications at Monash University.
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