Polaris IntelligencePolaris Intelligence
InformationOrganizationsProductsSpacecraftMissionsConstellationsLaunch VehiclesLocations
© Polaris Intelligence 2025Admin

Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISL)

Component
Admin Edit
Class: CommunicationsSubclass: Optical Fiber AmplifierOrganization: MDA Space Canada
Specifications
Verified technical details with source attribution
SpecificationValueSources
Orbit TypeLEO and MEO
Darpa selects SpaceLink to participate in program to connect the space domain
Telesat Lightspeed aiming to break ground early next year
Product FunctionEnable high-speed data transmission between satellites using laser-based optical communication, reducing dependence on ground-based infrastructure
Darpa selects SpaceLink to participate in program to connect the space domainTelesat Lightspeed aiming to break ground early next yearTelesat contracts Intellian for Lightspeed LEO gateways
Application DomainSatellite constellation communications - LEO and MEO relay networks
Darpa selects SpaceLink to participate in program to connect the space domainTelesat Lightspeed aiming to break ground early next yearTelesat contracts Intellian for Lightspeed LEO gateways
Target ConstellationTelesat Lightspeed LEO constellation; SpaceLink MEO relay constellation
Darpa selects SpaceLink to participate in program to connect the space domainTelesat Lightspeed aiming to break ground early next yearTelesat contracts Intellian for Lightspeed LEO gateways
Integration ManufacturerMDA
Telesat contracts Intellian for Lightspeed LEO gateways
Additional Information
Extra fields from the product other_info JSON column.

Other Info

Primary Benefit

Value

Reduce reliance on ground infrastructure for traffic management and enable faster spacecraft-to-ground communications via relay

Sources

23af776b 876e 4f4e 877e 7ec06b843b97A5a5fe7b 5e4c 4110 Bcc5 E729cc099a0fFe3a75c0 F335 4ed0 A0a1 2a0bb6e47c17

Conflicts

None

Corroboration Count

3

Competing Systems Mentioned

Value

SpaceLink MEO relay constellation also utilizes OISL technology

Sources

23af776b 876e 4f4e 877e 7ec06b843b97

Conflicts

None

Corroboration Count

1
Synthesis Evidence
All fact sentences used in this product synthesis.

“MDA is equipping Lightspeed satellites with optical inter-satellite links to reduce dependence on ground-based systems.”

Telesat contracts Intellian for Lightspeed LEO gatewaysOct 23, 2024fe3a75c0-f335-4ed0-a0a1-2a0bb6e47c17

“SpaceLink is building a constellation of relay satellites in MEO that use optical inter-satellite links to speed communications between spacecraft in orbit and users on the ground.”

Darpa selects SpaceLink to participate in program to connect the space domainAug 23, 202223af776b-876e-4f4e-877e-7ec06b843b97

“Telesat’s LEO constellation is being designed with optical inter-satellite links to reduce reliance on ground infrastructure for landing traffic.”

Telesat Lightspeed aiming to break ground early next yearFeb 1, 2022a5a5fe7b-5e4c-4110-bcc5-e729cc099a0f
Mention Sources
All source documents that mention this product.
Darpa selects SpaceLink to participate in program to connect the space domain1 mention

Aug 23, 2022

Telesat Lightspeed aiming to break ground early next year1 mention

Feb 1, 2022

Entity Mentions
All verified mentions of this entity in source documents

Telesat’s LEO constellation is being designed with optical inter-satellite links to reduce reliance on ground infrastructure for landing traffic.

Mentioned as: Optical Inter-Satellite LinksSourceFeb 1, 2022

SpaceLink is building a constellation of relay satellites in MEO that use optical inter-satellite links to speed communications between spacecraft in orbit and users on the ground.

Mentioned as: optical inter-satellite linksSourceAug 23, 2022