World's smallest space laser station is changing global connectivity by bypassing 'vulnerabilities associated with terrestrial and subsea cables'

Date:
Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:10:00 +0000

Description:
The world's smallest deployable operational optical ground station is not faulted by the downfalls of terrestrial and subsea cables.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Archangel Lightworks has successfully tested the world's smallest deployable operational optical
ground station, demonstrating secure, rapid data transfer with low Earth
orbit satellites The UK government has praised the achievement, with UK Space Minister Liz Lloyd highlighting its contribution to strengthening global connectivity, economic growth, and national security The system ran multiple tests to conform to the U.S. Space Development Agency's laser communication standard while retaining its portability with a 1.1m tall and 0.7 diameter form factor, while forgoing the need for a protective dome Archangel Lightworks, a UK-based optical and laser communications company, has recently announced the successful conclusion of its testing of the world's smallest deployable operational optical ground station, the TERRA-M.

Clocking in at just 1.1m in height and a 0.7m diameter, the TERRA-M enables mobile deployment while enabling secure, rapid communications with low Earth orbit satellites. It is a considerably more efficient option, effectively addressing size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints that plague older
ground stations. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: A potent, portable peak at the future of communication The TERRA-M made multiple runs to verify that it conformed to the U.S. Space Development Agency's laser communication standard over a multi-day trial. This achievement is doubly impressive given its small size.

The portable nature of the TERRA-M was emphasized by Archangel Lightworks' CEO: "The TERRA-M is uniquely capable of rapid, secure data transfer with satellites while also being small enough to be deployed and redeployed at the point of need." You may like Artemis II laser communication system performs 100,000 times faster than Apollo 13 radio The story behind how Lithuania is perfectly aligned to capitalize on an emerging space economy Orbital is planning to launch AI data centers into space to solve power and cooling issues

Accolades also flowed from multiple industry giants and government officials, including, most notably, an acknowledgment from the UK's Space Minister, Liz Lloyd, who called Archangel Lightworks achievement a "prime example of
British innovation leading the world in next-generation space technology."

The TERRA-M's size and ability to deploy rapidly make the underlying technology applicable to both commercial and defense industry applications, allowing it to address issues such as long deployment timelines, temporary needs, and internet coverage for communities that are otherwise difficult to support. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Archangel Lightworks has plenty of storied investors that have now invested
as much as $20 million into the venture, including, most notably, Santander Alternative Investments, National Security Strategic Investment Fund, Blackfinch Ventures, Oxford Capital, Lycka Limited, and Oxford Science Enterprises, with a recent Series A funding round bringing in $13.5 Million. It also enjoys support from the UK's Space Agency, the Department of Science and Technology (DSIT), and the Ministry of Defense, further strengthening its multi-pronged industrial and government connections.

With the underlying tech also attracting overseas buyers, including Omantel from the Sultanate of Oman, which signed a 2025 agreement to fast-track solutions such as the TERRA-M, there are plenty of interested parties beyond domestic investors for the bleeding-edge technology in play, even as it continues to mature from a proof-of-concept to a readily available solution with Archangel Lightworks stating that units are available for purchase and service contracts are now in play. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/worlds-smallest-space-laser-station-is-changing- global-connectivity-by-bypassing-vulnerabilities-associated-with-terrestrial-a nd-subsea-cables


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