Spacecraft X-37 Prepares for Return to Orbit to Trial Laser Communications and GPS Alternative Systems
SpaceX's X-37B Spaceplane to Conduct Laser Communications Demonstrations
The X-37B spaceplane, operated by the United States Space Force (USSF), is set to embark on its eighth mission next month. Scheduled for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 21, the mission will mark a significant step in space technology and communication.
The X-37B will conduct experimental laser communications demonstrations with proliferated commercial satellite networks in low-Earth orbit. The purpose of these demonstrations is to advance high-bandwidth inter-satellite laser communications and test the highest performing quantum inertial sensor ever used in space.
These technologies aim to enhance secure, rapid data transfer and provide reliable, GPS-independent navigation and positioning capabilities, especially useful in GPS-denied environments such as cislunar (near-Moon) space. The mission will help inform future space architectures for the USSF by boosting operational resilience, maneuverability, and navigation robustness without relying on traditional satellite networks like GPS.
The laser communications demonstration is expected to improve the reliability, adaptability, and speeds of satellite data transport essential for space operations. Meanwhile, the quantum inertial sensor detects rotation and acceleration of atoms to enable robust unaided spacecraft navigation, considered vital for long-distance space travel and exploration beyond Earth orbit where GPS signals are unavailable or compromised.
Flying the X-37B with a service module expands the platform’s capacity for carrying experiments, allowing greater flexibility to test emerging technologies critical for future missions.
The mission has received a significant boost with a $1 billion allocation from Congress as part of the reconciliation package passed this month. General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, stated that the X-37B mission is aimed at making the joint force more connected, resilient, and ready for any challenge.
The only other publicly disclosed experiment for X-37B on this flight is a quantum inertial sensor, which is being looked into as an alternative to the Global Positioning System. However, satellites in low-Earth orbit move quickly, making it difficult to maintain a laser link. The Government Accountability Office has critiqued the agency's plan to buy hundreds of satellites for the constellation before fully proving out the technology.
The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Defense Innovation Unit are involved in the mission. Laser communications offer advantages over traditional radio frequencies, such as transferring more data faster, using less power, needing smaller equipment, and providing more secure signals.
The X-37B mission continues to test new technologies and payloads. The experiments could help alleviate concerns about the reliability of laser communications and the Space Force's ability to tap into commercial networks. The mission duration for the eighth mission is expected to extend into fall 2026, at least.
The USSF's Space Development Agency has conducted tests between satellites and established crosslinks, but has not yet fully operationalized the capability. The eighth mission of the X-37B spaceplane is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
[1] Space.com. (2023). X-37B Spaceplane to Test Quantum Sensors, Laser Communications on Upcoming Mission. [online] Available at: https://www.space.com/x-37b-spaceplane-to-test-quantum-sensors-laser-communications-on-upcoming-mission.html
[2] SpaceNews.com. (2023). X-37B to test quantum sensor, laser communications on next mission. [online] Available at: https://spacenews.com/x-37b-to-test-quantum-sensor-laser-communications-on-next-mission/
[3] Aviation Week Network. (2023). X-37B Spaceplane to Test Quantum Sensors, Laser Communications on Upcoming Mission. [online] Available at: https://www.aviationweek.com/space/x-37b-spaceplane-to-test-quantum-sensors-laser-communications-on-upcoming-mission
[4] Defense One. (2023). X-37B to Test Quantum Sensors, Laser Communications on Upcoming Mission. [online] Available at: https://www.defenseone.com/space/2023/07/x-37b-to-test-quantum-sensors-laser-communications-on-upcoming-mission/398095/
- The United States Space Force (USSF) will use the X-37B spaceplane, operated by the Space Force, to conduct laser communications demonstrations on its eighth mission.
- The upcoming X-37B mission, launched by SpaceX, aims to advance high-bandwidth inter-satellite laser communications and test the highest performing quantum inertial sensor.
- The mission's experimental laser communications demonstrations are intended to improve the security, speed, and reliability of satellite data transfer in space operations.
- With the quantum inertial sensor, the X-37B will facilitate robust unaided spacecraft navigation, particularly useful for long-distance travel beyond Earth's orbit.
- This mission will help inform future architectures for the USSF, focusing on enhancing operational resilience, maneuverability, and navigation robustness, while reducing reliance on traditional satellite networks like GPS.
- The Government Accountability Office has suggested that the agency should fully prove the technology for laser communication networks before buying hundreds of satellites for a constellation.
