Cross-Link

Cross-link empowers satellites to connect and exchange data with their orbital companions, fostering seamless cooperation and synergy within a constellation or network. This technological feat enables satellites, like celestial messengers, to establish inter-satellite links, creating a web of interconnected nodes across the heavens.

Within a constellation or network, satellites engaged in cross-linking engage in an intricate dance of communication, sharing vital information, and collaborating in their celestial pursuits. This dynamic exchange of data empowers satellites to work together, complementing each other’s strengths and compensating for weaknesses, resulting in unparalleled efficiency and coverage over vast areas of our planet.

With cross-link as their celestial conduit, satellites pass critical messages and relay signals among one another, ensuring no corner of the Earth remains beyond their reach. This coordination is instrumental in providing comprehensive global coverage, bolstering communication, navigation, earth observation, and other space-based services.

Sources:

• European Space Agency – Optical Communications in Space – Twenty Years of ESA Effort
• NASA – CubeSat Laser Infrared CrosslinK
• Viasat – Viasat real-time space relay