The transmission of information between Earth and space relies on radio frequencies, a scarce resource that has a finite capacity to carry data. With the rising number of satellites and the increasing integration of space technology into everyday activities, the volume of exchanged data continues to grow. These challenges are making organisations look for new ways to make information move faster and more efficiently over greater distances.

The missions launched aboard Space X’s Transporter-16 on 30 March aim to find solutions towards this problem. More concretely, some CubeSats will demonstrate various elements of laser communication, a secure and high-throughput method to connect spacecrafts with each other and to ground stations. From testing new optical stations on Earth to inter-satellite links, the CubeSats focus on showing easier and more cost-effective complementary technologies to radio frequencies.

In addition, other CubeSats and a payload carried on a host CubeSat will test improved methods for transmitting data, including communication between satellites in the same and intersecting orbits. They will also demonstrate enhanced in-orbit data processing, which helps reduce the risk of sending inaccurate or unnecessary information.