On Monday, August 10, 2026, Lithuanian company Astrolight, which develops laser communications solutions for the space, ground, and maritime sectors, and European company ATMOS Space Cargo, operating in Germany, France, and Poland and specializing in orbital return transportation systems, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The agreement aims to conduct a demonstration in 2027 that, according to the partners, will mark the first-ever in-flight optical communications link between a spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere and a satellite in orbit.
Demonstration of a laser communications link between a satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) and the PHOENIX 2 spacecraft during atmospheric re-entry. Source: ATMOS Space Cargo. Background elements were generated using AI-based tools
The companies plan to demonstrate the real-time transmission of system and payload data between a spacecraft returning from orbit and a satellite in orbit. The project is intended to represent a step forward in the development of high-speed communications supporting Europe’s independent capabilities for transporting payloads from space back to Earth.
During the mission, ATLAS-X laser communications terminals developed by Astrolight are to be installed both on the PHOENIX re-entry vehicle and on the satellite used for the demonstration. The objective is to demonstrate an optical spacecraft-to-satellite link capable of transmitting system and mission data in real time during orbital operations and the atmospheric re-entry phase, with data rates of up to 2.5 Gb/s.
Image: Operational diagram of the joint demonstration involving satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), the PHOENIX 2 re-entry vehicle, and a ground-based mission control center. Source: ATMOS Space Cargo
Missions involving the return of payloads from orbit are opening up new commercial opportunities, ranging from the transport of scientific samples, products manufactured in microgravity, and critical components to support for defense applications, Earth observation, emergency response, and future space logistics systems. As the number of such missions increases, maintaining reliable real-time communications during atmospheric re-entry is becoming increasingly important, particularly when conventional radio-frequency telemetry is degraded.
Within the PHOENIX system architecture, optical data transmission has been designed as an integral capability intended to provide a continuous communications channel during the deorbit and atmospheric re-entry phases. The solution is expected to enable monitoring of the vehicle’s technical status, guidance parameters, deorbit progress, and payload data before the capsule is physically recovered, paving the way for routine and autonomous orbital return operations.
Laser communications are particularly well suited to providing the required bandwidth and reliability. By using narrow, highly focused beams of light, they can transmit data at rates up to 100 times faster than conventional radio systems while also being significantly more difficult to jam, intercept, or detect.
“Testing a laser link between PHOENIX and an orbiting satellite will mark an important first for re-entry communications. Until now, this capability has only been explored in ground-based laboratory conditions. Together with ATMOS Space Cargo, we are bringing it into space,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight. “Our goal is to help re-entry vehicles connect directly with satellites and, in the future, satellite constellations, so operators can access as much data as possible in real time and make missions more controlled and scalable. Laser links also make communications harder to interfere with or intercept – a major advantage for both commercial and defence missions.“
The ATLAS-X terminal is a compact optical communications device with low size, weight, and power (low-SWaP) requirements, designed for high-speed data transmission in missions where onboard resources are limited. For re-entry vehicles such as PHOENIX, where communications systems compete for space and power with the payload and other mission-critical systems, the terminal’s small footprint is crucial for integrating optical communications without significantly increasing the platform’s requirements.
“ATMOS is working to give Europe independent and routine commercial access to return from space,” said Sebastian Klaus, CEO of ATMOS Space Cargo. “As cargo-return missions grow more autonomous and data-intensive, real-time connectivity across the entire mission cycle is becoming increasingly important. Our partnership with Astrolight is a step toward integrating laser communication into PHOENIX as a strategic layer for payload monitoring, autonomous de-orbit, and re-entry operations.“
Europe currently relies heavily on international partners for the transport of payloads to and from low Earth orbit. As the commercialization of the space sector advances, efforts are under way to develop sovereign capabilities in this area, including through ESA’s LEO Cargo Return Services Initiative, which aims to reduce dependence on foreign partners for returning payloads from orbit.
The partnership between Astrolight and ATMOS Space Cargo is intended to represent an important step toward the deployment of laser communications in future European cargo return missions. The solution is expected to provide operators and customers with faster access to in-flight data while supporting the development of an independent and scalable European space logistics infrastructure.
About Astrolight
Astrolight was founded in 2019 by Laurynas Mačiulis, former co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Kongsberg NanoAvionics, together with other partners with backgrounds at leading European companies specializing in laser technologies. The company aims to provide end-to-end optical communications solutions by designing and manufacturing fully integrated systems for space, ground, and maritime applications. Astrolight develops optical communications terminals for space-to-ground, space-to-space, ship-to-ship, and terrestrial links, using full vertical integration of its proprietary technology stack to deliver high performance, reliability, and shorter product development cycles.
About ATMOS Space Cargo
ATMOS Space Cargo is a European space logistics company operating in Lichtenau, Germany, Strasbourg, France, and Kraków, Poland. The company develops lightweight, reusable orbital transport vehicles designed to carry, service, and return a wide range of payloads with varying masses and mission profiles from low Earth orbit. The PHOENIX family comprises reusable orbital transfer and re-entry vehicles (OTRVs) designed for autonomous transport operations. The vehicles use an Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), which serves both as a thermal protection system and an aerodynamic brake. Its non-ablative design reduces material consumption and environmental impact while increasing payload transport efficiency and improving control during atmospheric re-entry. By closing the full space logistics cycle, ATMOS supports the development of in-orbit manufacturing, materials research, and experiments conducted in microgravity, contributing to the establishment of a sustainable and reliable European space infrastructure that strengthens access to space and Europe’s long-term technological sovereignty.
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