Illustration of optically linked satellites. Credit: CACI
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded K2 Space a $22.9 million contract to test laser terminals designed to transmit data directly between satellites in orbit.
Under the contract announced July 31, K2 Space will procure, integrate, launch and operate two Enterprise Space Terminals, with each terminal carried as a hosted payload on a separate K2 satellite. The demonstration is scheduled to be completed by 2028.
A hosted payload is equipment carried aboard a satellite that relies on the host spacecraft for power, thermal control, pointing, communications and other support. K2, based in Torrance, California, will be responsible for integrating the terminals with its satellite buses and operating the spacecraft during the test.
The award does not identify which companies will supply the two terminals.
