Greece’s Advanced Laser Satellite Communications test campaign to launch with ESA support
The European Space Agency (ESA) is supporting an extensive test campaign for optical laser terminals orchestrated by a broad coalition of Greek aerospace and academic partners under the Greek Connectivity Programme. Launching with four CubeSat missions in the first half of 2026, this campaign will aim to validate next-generation laser communication terminals in support of Greece’s expanding Connectivity and Secure Communications Programme.
The missions, operated by Planetek Hellas, EMTech Space, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will conduct in-orbit-demonstrations of three different laser payload designs. The optical terminals will use laser light for high-bandwidth, secure links between the satellites and ground stations, potentially exceeding 1Gbps data rates. This technology represents a step change from traditional radio frequency communications, which are vulnerable to interference, provide much lower data rates, and require licensing.