HOME - KSAT Open Menu KSAT takes a leading role in development of a new and integrated European Optical Ground Station Network The European Optical Nucleus Network is the world’s first commercially available optical communications Ground Network for Direct-to-Earth communication services. KSAT is developing new software interface, enabling integration of partner antennas to be operated seamlessly in a network from one access point, KSAT HQ in Tromsø 10 Nov 2021 While the commercial space industry seems reluctant to invest in the optical communication ground segment as very few satellites have optical communications terminals on-board, KSAT has taken a pro-active approach towards operationalizing this groundbreaking technology by installing a commercial optical ground station in Greece this year. KSAT is now taking the next step and is, as part of an ESA project, establishing an operational optical ground network, the European Optical Nucleus Network (EONN). KSAT is integrating all optical partner stations to one Network Operations Center providing seamless access. To be able to operate the antennas as a network from one access point, KSAT is developing new software that emulates the feeling of a seamless network and makes it easy to schedule the resources through the existing KSAT interface. The automatic interface enables easy scheduling, booking and reservation, and as a result, all stations in the network can be addressed in the same way as any other KSAT antenna. This is the same approach as the KSAT global RF network is operated today, and as the market grows the network can easily be extended around the world to complement existing RF networks. The worlds first Commercial Optical Ground Station is in Nemea, Greece With a single Reservation system, the user will be able to access all OGS’s in the nucleus network. Once the optical market gets enough traction the network can easily be extended around the world and become a high data rate complement to RF networks. The network can also be used for future lunar communications. The ESA-ESOC ELRS at Tenerife, the DLR-GSOC at Almeria and the KSAT station at Nemea in Greece (called the Nucleus stations) will be connected to the KSAT Tromsø Network Operations Centre (TNOC). The stations are aiming to be compliant with the HPE standards using the optical band around 1550nm. Learn more about our optical capabilities: SONY CSL SUCCESSFULLY SENT SIGNALS TO THE KSAT COMMERCIAL OPTICAL GROUND STATION Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (Sony CSL) and KSAT successfully demonstrated optical downlinks from a space terminal (Small Optical Link for ISS: SOLISS) on the International Space Station… More KSAT PART OF SELECTED CONSORTIUM FOR ESA' S MOONLIGHT INITIATIVE Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead a Phase A/B1 Study under ESA's Moonlight initiative to provide sustainable commercial Lunar… More KSAT AND TESAT WILL OFFER GROUNDBREAKING OPTICAL DOWNLINK AS-A-SERVICE First movers KSAT and TESAT are bridging the gap in the optical space to ground communication domain. Through close collaboration they are establishing an optical ground segment that is instrumental… More KONGSBERG SATELLITE SERVICES Prestvannvegen 38 9011 Tromsø, Norway ksat@ksat.no +47 77 60 02 50 Org. nr: 984 079 125 © KSAT - All rights reserved Privacy and data protection