SpaceLink, not to be confused with Elon Musk’s Starlink, has signed an R&D agreement with the US Army. The Virginia-based startup announced the R&D deal with the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command Technical Center on Monday. The aim is to help facilitate faster data distribution.
The company is building an MEO satellite data relay system, using both radio-frequency and optical links. According to SpaceLink, the agreement will include close collaboration with the USASMDC, which will allow SpaceLink to discern the requirements of the US Army, thus speeding up adjustments to the program. As part of the agreement, SpaceLink will provide modelling and simulation tools.
Ultimately, the goal of the agreement is to allow blistering fast data transfer to troops on the ground. By relaying data or images from other satellites, the system can provide critical information to army personnel within minutes or seconds, instead of hours. SpaceLink claims that they are ready for production. The first four satellites are geared for launch by late 2024.
