Telesat is positioning itself for defense contracts by planning a 2027 NASA laser communications demonstration ahead of its low Earth orbit constellation debut. The Canadian satellite operator is adding military Ka-band capabilities as part of its strategy to serve government and defense customers.
The laser communications test represents a key technical milestone for Telesat's upcoming LEO constellation. According to SpaceNews, the demonstration will showcase the company's optical communication capabilities, which are critical for high-speed data transmission in space-based networks.