A new collaboration between the University of South Australia, Adelaide start-up RapidBeam, and Japan's Warpspace aims to speed development of next-generation space laser communications. The agreement targets faster, more secure, and more reliable data transfer than today's radio-based systems for missions spanning Earth observation to deep space.

At the core is Warpspace's HOCSAI optical modem. The partners will integrate and test HOCSAI within the Australasian Optical Ground Station Network, a UniSA-led laser communications network across Australia and New Zealand, validating interoperability, standards compliance, and robust performance in satellite-to-satellite and space-to-ground trials.

"Free-space optical communications will be critical for future connectivity," says UniSA Mike Mi

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