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York Space Systems (YSS) and BridgeSat Collaborate to Bring Optical Communications Capabilities to the YSS Satellite Platform

 

York Space Systems (YSS), an aerospace company that specializes in developing small- and medium-class spacecraft, and BridgeSat Inc., a developer of free-space optical communications systems, announced a collaboration to bring high data rate downlink capabilities to the YSS satellite platform.

York Space Systems is developing a platform called the AESV S-Class that leverages a patent-pending design to reduce the cost of manufacturing satellites by an order of magnitude. Designed for mass manufacture, and intended for use in constellations, YSS’ S-Class platform aims to support a wide range of missions, including Earth observation, weather and communications.

YSS is working with BridgeSat to offer a total optical communications solution by providing a small optical communications space terminal that is lighter, more secure and at a lower cost than the equivalent radio frequency (RF) solution. This optical communications system is planned to be demonstrated with the inaugural launch of YSS’ Harbinger Mission in late 2017, and will include the capability for high-rate data delivery to the BridgeSat global ground network.

With this demonstration mission, YSS will offer satellite operators an optical communications option optimized for their satellite platform, adding another level of capability to their efficient and low-cost access to space.

“We see the tremendous added value for our customers by having this kind of rapid downlink capability: removing mission ops constraints, simplifying planning, and reducing power. We are very excited to be working with the BridgeSat team to make this capability not only available for the Harbinger Mission, but for numerous missions to come,” said Dirk Wallinger, Chief Executive Officer of York Space Systems.

“Demand is accelerating for small- and medium-sized satellites, which offer greater flexibility at a significantly lower cost, and York Space Systems is at the leading edge of this growing trend. We are pleased that through our collaboration, we have the opportunity to potentially expand use of free-space optical communications,” said John Serafini, co-General Manager of BridgeSat and Senior Vice President of Allied Minds, BridgetSat’s parent company.