Experimental testing of ATLAS-1 optical terminal (Source: Astrolight)

The partnership between Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Astrolight will validate next-generation optical communication technologies in low Earth orbit as part of the PeakSat mission.

February 25, 2024–Vilnius, Lithuania. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and Astrolight, a pioneer in space-to-ground optical communication technology, have announced a strategic collaboration to advance satellite connectivity. The partnership involves integrating Astrolight’s ATLAS-1 optical terminal into PeakSat, a CubeSat mission that must enable laser communication from low Earth orbit (LEO) to ground stations in Greece.

As part of this agreement, Astrolight will supply its ATLAS-1 optical terminal, which will serve as the primary payload for PeakSat. Astrolight will also upgrade Holomondas’s Optical Ground Station (OGS) with its 808 nm Laser Beacon and C-band optical receiver. These upgrades will ensure precise alignment and up to 1 Gbps data reception during the mission and handle the demands of laser communication under varying atmospheric and operational conditions.

“Collaborations like this demonstrate the potential of combining academic innovation with industry expertise,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight. “By providing our ATLAS-1 terminal and OGS upgrades, we not only want to support the PeakSat mission, but ultimately contribute to Aristotle University of Thessaloniki goal of developing a scalable, secure, and efficient communication infrastructure in Greece.”

The PeakSat mission aims to assess a new optical ground station

Scheduled for launch in Q4 2025 via SpaceX’s Transporter-15 mission, PeakSat aims to establish optical communication links between LEO satellites and ground stations.

This represents a shift from traditional radio frequency-based communication to more advanced laser technology, providing higher data rates, better resistance to interference, and enhanced security.

The mission’s primary goal is to evaluate the operational performance of the Holomondas OGS. It will be done by systematically testing various scenarios, elevation angles, weather conditions, and illumination environments.

A secondary objective is the in-orbit validation of critical hardware and software developed by AUTh. These include the On-Board Computer (OBC), which will be used for the specific needs of the SpaceDot team’s satellites, and a communication board adapted from the Libre Space Foundation’s SatNOGS platform. This validation ensures these components are ready for broader application in future space missions.

“Optical communication is a big achievement for CubeSats,” explained Panagiotis Vamvakas, Project Manager for PeakSat. “It offers higher data rates, better security, and eliminates spectrum licensing challenges. It is now the ideal choice for modern satellite applications. PeakSat will explore this challenging new path, and will provide invaluable insights for future satellite missions to adopt this technology more broadly.”

Collaboration between academia and industry enabled faster R&D for PeakSat 

Currently, technology transfer from academia to industry takes approximately up to 5 years. According to Vamvakas, such collaborations as one with Astrolight can speed this process up.

“This partnership shows how important the collaboration between academia and industry is.  Eventually, various innovations can be adopted sooner, and together, they create solutions that bridge the gap between research and real-world applications,” he added. 

Mačiulis highlighted the importance of collaboration in the space industry.

“Our collaboration with AUTh has far more reaching consequences than simply to provide the ATLAS-1 terminal. It will allow us to advance our solutions based on actual mission feedback, creating a stronger foundation for future innovations in space optical communication,” concluded Mačiulis. 

According to Vamvakas, this partnership resembles a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of optical communication for the next generation of satellite missions.

“Usually, there’s a big gap between research and practical applications. With such collaborations, there’s no delay, which is usually the bottleneck in the latest, rapidly advancing technologies like laser communication. That’s why PeakSat’s mission is much more than just a technical collaboration. It’s an opportunity to test and showcase the potential of laser communication in real-world conditions,” he concluded.

The PeakSat mission is a key initiative under the Greek National Satellite Space Project, jointly launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance. The project draws funding from multiple sources, including the EU’s Next Generation program and Greece’s National Recovery and Resilience Fund.

With close support from ESA’s Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications, this endeavor represents a significant step in Greece’s space capabilities, implemented through the EU-funded Recovery and Resilience Facility.

“The collaboration between Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Astrolight on the PeakSat mission exemplifies the dynamic growth we’re fostering in Greece’s space sector. ESA is proud to support this partnership, which will advance optical communication capabilities and demonstrate how academic-industry collaboration can drive technological progress in Europe’s space economy,” said Frederic Rouesnel, Greek Connectivity RRF Project Manager at ESA.

The mission is funded by the EU’s Next Generation program, the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, and the National Recovery and Resilience Fund.

Assessment of the operational efficiency of the Holomondas OGS under various conditions, including weather and elevation scenarios, will be evaluated after the expected launch on the 1st of October, 2025.

About Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh)

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) is the largest academic institution in Greece, renowned for its contributions to research and innovation in various disciplines. Through its SpaceDot team, AUTh participates in projects in space and satellite technologies. That includes the AcubeSAT and PeakSat missions. With facilities like the Optical Ground Station of Holomondas, AUTh demonstrates its commitment to bridging academic research with practical applications.

About Astrolight

Founded in 2019 by an ex-founder and CTO of Kongsberg Nanoavionics, Laurynas Mačiulis, together with co-founders from leading European laser companies, Astrolight is on a mission to bridge the connectivity gap between space and Earth by leveraging laser communication. Astrolight laser communication terminal ATLAS stands out from competitors due to its small size and low power consumption, leveraging Astrolight’s proprietary beam steering and modular optical amplifier system design.

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with other four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.  

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int