Astrogate and Spacebeam plan space-to-ground optical-link tests

Bengaluru-based Astrogate Labs and South Korea’s Spacebeam plan joint laser-communication tests linking satellite terminals with optical ground infrastructure, according to Astrogate’s 9 October announcement. The companies describe a memorandum of understanding executed during the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Türkiye.

The test sequence would begin with terrestrial and air-to-ground links before moving to a satellite carrying an Astrogate optical terminal and reception through Spacebeam’s ground station. Via Satellite reports the same planned progression. The satellite demonstration remains a proposed step.

Astrogate’s AstroLink terminals provide the spacecraft side of the proposed link, while Spacebeam’s Osong optical ground infrastructure would receive signals on Earth. The announcement pairs the hardware for link verification and demonstration testing; it does not report a completed joint orbital link.

The companies also plan to explore ground-station access as a service, allowing satellite operators using Astrogate terminals to receive optical data through Spacebeam infrastructure. Astrogate’s announcement presents this as a potential integrated service. It gives no demonstration date or commercial-service start date.