SpaceLink enters into cooperative R&D agreement with U.S. Army

Edinburgh / McLean, 9 August 2022. – Space communications infrastructure company, SpaceLink, has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Technical Center (USASMDC-TC) in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, SpaceLink said. The organizations will explore alternative space communications pathways together to ensure resiliency and reduce sensor-to-shooter latency.

SpaceLink’s medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite relay system will be equipped with both optical and RF (radio frequency) links to speed up data flow. The newly built service will augment the U.S. national security space architecture. 

SpaceLink will continue to provide secure, continuous, high-bandwidth communications between spacecraft and Earth stations or ground terminals in the United States. The collaboration will include research and simulation activities providing a baseline of interoperability between government systems and SpaceLink’s network.

Under the agreement, SpaceLink will adjust its technology roadmap to meet the needs of the U.S. Army. SpaceLink’s network has continuous line of sight to low Earth orbit, MEO and geosynchronous satellites as well as high-altitude resources. Designed to support real-time tasking and data downlink, it is able to help military operators making tactical decisions.