LGS to Develop Light-Based Comms for Micro Satellites

LGS Innovations, Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a contract to develop a prototype pair of lightweight, low-power optical communication terminals that will allow for light-based communication between micro-satellites in low-earth orbit. Under the terms of the contract, LGS will be responsible for developing a pair of laser communication terminals to be launched on two Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) small satellites. The terminals are to be extremely lightweight, weighing less than 2 pounds each, and will operate on less than 3 watts of power.