Marble Sat-1 to test 10 Gbps laser communications in 2027
Marble Imaging, Reflex Aerospace, and Odysseus Space will launch a laser communications demonstration mission in early 2027. The Marble Sat-1 satellite will test a system designed to overcome radio-frequency bottlenecks for Earth observation data.
A joint mission to deploy laser communications on the Marble Sat-1 satellite will test integrated space-to-ground systems in early 2027. Marble Imaging, Reflex Aerospace, and Odysseus Space announced the collaboration on October 21, 2026, aiming to demonstrate high-throughput data transmission for Earth observation.
The satellite platform, named Morgana, was manufactured and integrated by Reflex Aerospace and has already passed flight qualification and vibration testing. The mission is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2027.
Technology Innovation
The mission introduces high-speed laser communications capable of 10 Gbps data rates to overcome RF bottlenecks. High-resolution Earth observation payloads generate massive data volumes, creating throughput constraints with conventional radio channels that operate between 1 and 2 Gbps.
Optical communications bypass these limitations by using narrow, interception-resistant beams outside international radio spectrum licensing regimes. The Cyclops-DTE terminal from Odysseus Space delivers transmission speeds up to 10 Gbps and a daily throughput of at least 1 terabyte of imagery.
Shifting to a managed Laser Communication as a Service model enables Marble Imaging to lower data retrieval costs by a factor of ten. The service is provided on a subscription basis with no upfront hardware expense and includes pass planning through to data delivery.
Industry Collaboration
Marble Imaging, Reflex Aerospace, and Odysseus Space have partnered to deliver this demonstration mission. Marble Imaging is a German Earth-observation company using this satellite as the pathfinder for a planned constellation of more than 20 very high-resolution satellites for hourly planetary analytics.
Reflex Aerospace is responsible for satellite manufacturing and integration. Odysseus Space provides the Cyclops-DTE laser communications terminal and supporting ground-segment services. The platform builds upon manufacturing lines supported by Reflex Aerospace’s €50 million Series A funding and earlier demonstration partnerships.
Marble Imaging plans to scale its satellite constellation to up to 30 satellites by 2030.
Operational Plan
The six-month in-orbit demonstration will validate the full system including terminal, ground stations, and software coordination. Following the early 2027 launch, Marble Sat-1 will undergo a six-month demonstration period to test the integrated system of the onboard terminal, ground infrastructure, and software for coordinating transmissions.
Odysseus Space plans to support the service through a network of up to 50 optical ground stations, with planned access to all 50 expected within five years. Walter Ballheimer, CEO of Reflex Aerospace, stated that secure, high-throughput communications are a critical requirement for next-generation satellite constellations. The six-month in-orbit demonstration period will commence after the early 2027 launch.
