Transcelestial starts orbital laser tracking in Singapore

Transcelestial has established recurring optical acquisition and tracking of its orbital laser terminal from optical ground stations in Singapore and Spain, giving it scheduled, self-operated multi-site coverage across two continents.

The campaign demonstrated that its orbital laser hardware can be acquired and tracked from both sites using the company's own optical ground stations, moving beyond single-site demonstrations to regular operations from geographically separated locations.

Ground coverage

The effort centred on what Transcelestial calls TMOGS, or optical ground stations, which connect with a laser terminal in low Earth orbit. According to the company, the system uses a distinctive optical signature between spacecraft and ground station to establish mutual identification, closed-loop pointing and continuous tracking before data transmission begins.

Internally designated Phase 3, the campaign focused on recurring acquisition performance and operation of ground infrastructure across multiple locations. The Singapore and Spain sites now support scheduled observation windows when the spacecraft passes overhead.

Network expansion

The milestone marks an operational step for Transcelestial as it works to build a broader space-to-ground laser communications network. It plans to add optical ground stations in Australia and the United States as it expands its footprint.

Laser communications systems are gaining attention across the space sector as operators look for alternatives to conventional radio frequency links. Companies in the field argue that optical links can carry larger volumes of data between orbit and Earth, particularly as satellites generate more imagery, communications traffic and computing workloads.

Transcelestial tied the milestone to a broader push toward low Earth orbit networks and orbital computing infrastructure. It is developing laser terminals for use in space, along with ground equipment to receive and manage those links.

Optical ambitions

"Transcelestial is World's First Venture-backed startup to deliver end to end laser comms connecting earth to deep space. This is critical to unlocking ultra fast LEO networks and Orbital Datacenters for AI. Our teams are world class in not only building laser comms terminals and networks but also scaling with manufacturable, COTS designs. We are looking to scale to dozens of these optical ground stations (TMOGS) all connected via terrestrial networks, over the next few years. This will enable real time access to anyone operating our laser terminals in space," said Rohit Jha, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Transcelestial.

Transcelestial said it is among the first commercial operators to run a commissioned optical network spanning more than one continent while integrating its own orbital laser hardware and optical ground stations within a single operational stack. The claim underscores the strategic importance of controlling both the space and ground segments in a market where many operators rely on partnerships for part of the chain.

Next phase

The work builds on earlier in-orbit activation and flight qualification following launch on SpaceX's Transporter-15 mission alongside Open Cosmos and i2CAT. With recurring acquisition now in place, the next step is repeatable optical data transfer between space and ground.

Transcelestial also operates a terrestrial business focused on wireless laser communications links between buildings, mobile towers, street-level poles and other infrastructure. It says that work, together with its satellite plans, is intended to support a broader network connecting terrestrial and orbital assets through laser links rather than relying solely on subsea cables or radio-based systems.

Footage released by the company showed its optical ground station in Singapore tracking a 1Gbps downlink terminal on the 6G StarLabs satellite, underscoring that the milestone involved operational hardware rather than a laboratory test.