SpaceX Starts Selling Satellite Lasers For Fast Communication In Space

Starlink uses satellite laser technology for communication. (photo:x @starlink)

JAKARTA - SpaceX has started sales of satellite lasers, which are used for rapid communications in space, to other satellite companies. This was said by SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, at a conference on Tuesday, March 19.

Thousands of SpaceX's Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit use inter-satellite laser connections to transmit data among each other in space at a speed of light, allowing the network to offer wider internet coverage worldwide with fewer ground stations.

Shotwell, speaking in a panel at a satellite industry conference in Washington, said SpaceX as a supplier would sell the technology to other companies.

"We will roll it out... with our new mission, Polaris Dawn, which will come this summer using Dragon capsules," Shotwell said, referring to the upcoming private astronaut flight with the company's Dragon space capsule.

Space companies have chosen to sell spacecraft components to diversify revenue and raise cash to fund large projects that require large capital. SpaceX is developing and testing its next-generation rocket, Starship, which is designed to be cheaper but much stronger than its flagship Falcon 9 rocket.

"In general, we don't sell components, so this is a little new for us," Shotwell said. He said SpaceX was already in talks with potential customers.