Overview

• A Chinese satellite used a 2 W laser to transmit data at 1 Gbps from geostationary orbit, surpassing Starlink’s speed by a factor of five.
• The demonstration, published in Acta Optica Sinica, was conducted by teams at Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences led by Professors Wu Jian and Liu Chao.
• AO-MDR synergy merges Adaptive Optics to correct atmospheric distortions with Mode Diversity Reception to capture scattered laser light, ensuring stable high-speed links.
• Operating from 36,000 km versus Starlink’s 550 km LEO altitude highlights China’s geostationary approach to scalable satellite data networks.
• Independence from complex ground stations and potential uses in HD streaming, enhanced navigation, and real-time space communications underscore its industry impact.