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Space Force Awards K2 Space $22.9M for Laser Communications Demo

August 1, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

Space Force awards K2 Space $22.9 million contract.
Contract is for orbital laser communications demonstration.
Two Enterprise Space Terminals to be launched and operated.
Demonstration scheduled to be completed by 2028.

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Strategic Implications

This award may indicate the Space Force's growing interest in laser communications for space-based networking. The demonstration could suggest a shift towards more advanced and secure communication systems, which may benefit the development of future space-based architectures and could enhance the Pentagon's ability to transmit sensitive data.

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What Happened

Orbital Laser Communications Demonstration To Advance Space-Based Networking

The U.S. Space Force has awarded K2 Space a $22.9 million contract to test laser terminals designed to transmit data directly between satellites in orbit. Under the contract, 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 part of the Enterprise Space Terminal program, a roughly $100 million effort to develop and evaluate optical communications hardware from multiple vendors. The award was reported by SpaceNews.

Source | Originally Published: July 31, 2024

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