A satellite payload system comprising: a plurality of optical processing modules (202, 204, 206, 208, 210), each optical processing module comprising: a module input comprising an optical splitter, a module output comprising an optical coupler, a dynamic gain equalizer interposed between a first output of the optical splitter and a first input to the optical coupler, an output bank of optical filters coupled to a second output of the optical splitter, and an input bank of optical filters coupled to a second input of the optical coupler; wherein the plurality of optical processing modules comprise a plurality of ring-connected optical processing modules (204, 208, 210) and a plurality of inter-satellite optical processing modules (202, 206); and at least one optical fiber ring configured to convey a plurality of photonic wavelengths, the at least one optical fiber ring communicatively coupled to each of the ring-connected optical processing modules via respective module inputs and module outputs of the ring-connected optical processing modules; wherein at least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is configured to provide on-board signal processing of wavelengths conveyed on the at least one optical fiber ring; wherein a plurality of the ring-connected optical processing modules are each communicatively coupled to a respective inter-satellite optical processing module via respective banks of optical filters; wherein each inter-satellite optical processing module is configured to optically communicatively couple to a respective remote satellite via its module input and via its module output. a plurality of optical processing modules (202, 204, 206, 208, 210), each optical processing module comprising: a module input comprising an optical splitter, a module output comprising an optical coupler, a dynamic gain equalizer interposed between a first output of the optical splitter and a first input to the optical coupler, an output bank of optical filters coupled to a second output of the optical splitter, and an input bank of optical filters coupled to a second input of the optical coupler; wherein the plurality of optical processing modules comprise a plurality of ring-connected optical processing modules (204, 208, 210) and a plurality of inter-satellite optical processing modules (202, 206); and a module input comprising an optical splitter, a module output comprising an optical coupler, a dynamic gain equalizer interposed between a first output of the optical splitter and a first input to the optical coupler, an output bank of optical filters coupled to a second output of the optical splitter, and an input bank of optical filters coupled to a second input of the optical coupler; wherein the plurality of optical processing modules comprise a plurality of ring-connected optical processing modules (204, 208, 210) and a plurality of inter-satellite optical processing modules (202, 206); and at least one optical fiber ring configured to convey a plurality of photonic wavelengths, the at least one optical fiber ring communicatively coupled to each of the ring-connected optical processing modules via respective module inputs and module outputs of the ring-connected optical processing modules; wherein at least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is configured to provide on-board signal processing of wavelengths conveyed on the at least one optical fiber ring; wherein a plurality of the ring-connected optical processing modules are each communicatively coupled to a respective inter-satellite optical processing module via respective banks of optical filters; wherein each inter-satellite optical processing module is configured to optically communicatively couple to a respective remote satellite via its module input and via its module output.