Recently, we announced the reveal of the new SAFRAN optical ground stations called “IRIS”. They are designed to accommodate diverse purposes, spanning from observing Earth, facilitating high-capacity two-way telecommunications, serving as feeder links, to supporting deep space missions for satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO), or interplanetary probes. These stations harness the power of Cortex Lasercom, a renowned optical modem with global recognition, capable of adhering to multiple standards like SDA, CCSDS, and HPE.

IRIS optical ground stations are also equipped with the state-of-the-art Cortex Lasercom modem, setting new benchmarks by delivering communication speeds 10 to 100 times faster than conventional radio frequency methods. With its advanced processing and decoding features, Cortex Lasercom achieves an unprecedented bitrate of 10 Gigabits per second for optical communications from Earth to space, unmatched globally.

This revolutionary technology, a result of collaborative efforts between Safran, Airbus, and CNES, will be integrated into upcoming optical ground stations offered by Safran. These ground stations enable communication with forthcoming satellites equipped with laser communication capabilities. In 2023, groundbreaking demonstrations were conducted on Airbus and CNES programs, marking historic milestones: LASIN on the CO3D satellite constellation for imaging and TELEO on the upcoming BADR-8 telecommunications satellite.

Furthermore, for deep space applications, a Cortex Lasercom HPE (High Photon Efficiency) model is also available, ensuring optimal performance in the most challenging environments.