Ibadan, 22 October 2026. – German Earth-observation company Marble Imaging has partnered with Reflex Aerospace and Odysseus Space on a satellite mission combining high-resolution Earth observation with laser-based data transmission. The mission will use Marble Imaging’s first satellite, Marble Sat-1, to demonstrate optical communications for transferring Earth-observation data from orbit to the ground. After launch, currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, Sat-1 will undergo a six-month in-orbit demonstration period before moving toward commercial operations.
Under the partnership, Reflex Aerospace is responsible for satellite manufacturing and integration, while Odysseus Space will provide its Cyclops-DTE laser communications terminal and supporting ground-segment services. The system is designed to support data transmission rates of up to 10 Gbps, potentially allowing large volumes of satellite imagery to reach the ground more quickly than with radio-based solutions. The demonstration will assess how optical communications could support data delivery as Marble Imaging develops its satellite constellation.
Targeting the data-downlink bottleneck with laser tech
As Earth-observation satellites collect increasingly detailed imagery, the ability to transmit that data efficiently becomes an important part of delivering useful information to customers. Laser communications offer a way to increase downlink capacity by transmitting data through optical links that have a higher bandwidth than conventional radio-frequency systems allow.
“Laser communication unlocks the downlink speeds needed for the massive data volumes of next-generation Earth observation satellites, while offering inherently more secure data transfer, critical in the current environment,” said Robert Hook, CEO of Marble Imaging. “We’re excited to incorporate this technology on our first satellite with our partner Odysseus Space.”
The mission will use Odysseus Space’s Cyclops-DTE optical communications terminal to transmit data from Marble Sat-1 to ground infrastructure through a laser link. Unlike radio-frequency communications, which use radio waves, optical communications transmit information using tightly directed beams of light.
Unlocking new business models
Odysseus Space plans to support the service through a geographically diverse network of up to 50 optical ground stations designed to receive satellite data and relay it into the delivery system, relying on its infrastructure and partner-operated stations. The mission will subsequently test the onboard terminal alongside the ground infrastructure and software used to coordinate transmissions, assessing the integrated system’s potential to support high-throughput Earth-observation data transfers.
“The throughput we enable allows our customers to unlock new business models that were previously out of reach due to technical limitations or prohibitive costs. For missions generating large volumes of data, we reduce the cost by a factor of ten while managing the entire service from pass planning to data delivery, and providing the space terminal with no upfront cost,” added Jordan Vannitsen, CEO of Odysseus Space.
For Marble Imaging, the demonstration forms part of its broader effort to develop a constellation of very-high-resolution Earth-observation satellites. The company plans to scale the network to up to 30 satellites by 2030, providing imagery and geospatial data for applications including environmental monitoring, infrastructure assessment, and security. As the constellation grows, efficient data transmission will be important to delivering imagery to customers and supporting time-sensitive applications.
Strengthening Europe’s Earth-observation capabilities
With Reflex Aerospace responsible for manufacturing and integrating the satellite platform, the partnership links German Earth-observation and satellite-manufacturing capabilities with optical communications technology developed by Luxembourg-based Odysseus Space. The collaboration also reflects a wider effort to strengthen Europe’s Earth-observation capabilities by combining satellite platforms, imaging technology, and data-transmission infrastructure developed by European industry.
“Secure, high-throughput communications are a critical requirement for next-generation satellite constellations. Space-to-ground laser communication enables data downlink rates and security levels far beyond what traditional RF systems can deliver,” said Walter Ballheimer, CEO of Reflex Aerospace. “We are delighted that Marble Imaging and Odysseus Space have chosen our high performance satellite platforms for this mission. Together, we are setting new benchmark for made-in-Europe secure satellite communications.”
