New Space

26 October 2026 10:00 - 11:30

Join us for the Optica Online Industry Meeting on New Space, exploring how photonics is enabling the rapid evolution of next-generation commercial space systems. As the space sector expands through low-cost launch capabilities, miniaturized satellite platforms, and growing demand for Earth observation and global communications, photonic technologies are becoming essential to mission-critical performance. From laser communication terminals and LiDAR systems to advanced spectrometers and optical navigation, photonics is at the core of scalable, high-performance space infrastructure.

This session will bring together optical engineers, systems architects, and satellite payload developers to discuss the technologies shaping New Space constellations and missions. Attendees will gain insights into laser communications for LEO and GEO networks, LiDAR for debris detection and proximity operations, multispectral and hyperspectral Earth observation, and the challenges of radiation tolerance, thermal cycling, and space qualification. The discussion will also explore the trade-offs between heritage space-qualified components and COTS photonics, and the emerging pathways toward scalable, cost-effective space systems.