ESA has signed a contract with a consortium of European companies to conduct a study for the development of optical technology for positioning, navigation, and timing. The goal is to create an in-orbit demonstrator for optical time synchronisation and ranging (OpSTAR) that will be proposed at the ESA Council in November 2025. This technology has the potential to revolutionize satellite navigation systems by providing unprecedented accuracy and robustness.
The European consortium, led by German OHB System, will conduct a concept definition study and technology predevelopments to assess the readiness of optical technology. The results will provide essential inputs for decision-makers regarding future operational systems. ESA’s Director of Navigation, Javier Benedicto, stated that this project will demonstrate the benefits of new technologies and shape the future of navigation in Europe.
Optical technology, particularly intersatellite optical links, offers the foundation for a fully autonomous global navigation satellite system with increased resilience and accuracy. The use of laser beams can reduce reliance on space atomic clocks and ground segments, while also being immune to jamming and spoofing. This technology is expected to improve navigation systems’ performance by providing millimeter-level spatial accuracy and picosecond-level timing.
ESA Navigation is leading the development of these technologies through programs like FutureNAV, aimed at exploring novel concepts for positioning, navigation, and timing. By involving European industry in this project, ESA is empowering them to lead in global navigation technology and benefit from potential implementation in future operational systems. The OpSTAR project will also contribute to defining an international interoperability standard for optical timing and ranging in PNT.
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