Starcloud has ordered more than 50 mini laser terminals from SpaceX, suitable for transmitting information optically between satellites via intersatellite link (ISL), including the Starlink network, in support of its orbital data center ambitions.
The company hopes to field a constellation of up to 88,000 satellites.
– Michael Nicolls via X - Starlink
"This collaboration with Starlink gives Starcloud satellites continuous, high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity. That’s what turns individual satellites into a functioning distributed data center," said Philip Johnston, co-founder and CEO of Starcloud, in a statement.
The new lasers will be installed on all future Starcloud satellites starting with Starcloud-2, intended to launch in January 2027. Each Starcloud satellite is to carry two of Starlink’s laser terminals, which are capable of transmitting up to 25Gbps over distances up to 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles).
