The Musa project aims to achieve gigabit-per-second transmission speeds and create a state-of-the-art satellite communication network.

Cutting-edge technologies for space-based optical communications is a research project that aims to develop and integrate innovative and cutting-edge technologies to achieve very high-speed data transmission, especially in application to optical communications between satellites.

“Our technology is based on the use of special laser beams that have the characteristic of being able to be superimposed on each other, without mixing the information that is encoded in each of them. This allows us to create multiple parallel and independent communication channels, in order to maximize the amount of information that can be transferred within the single node in these satellite communication networks,” explains Mirko Siano, a researcher in the Physics Department of Unimi and one of the authors of the project. An ambitious project that so far has been able to carry out optical communications in an outdoor environment over distances of about 60 meters, but which aims in its development to cover certainly greater distances.

“Through MUS and the projects we now have in operation – continues Siano – we aim to increase transmission speeds up to the gigabit per second regime and then through partnerships with leading companies in the Milan area we also aim to carry out real field or flight tests to be able to then carry out transmissions between satellites in orbit.”

A project that still looks to the future and that lends itself very well also to entrepreneurial projects. Siano further explains that “we have launched a startup SatEnlight which is in the POC phase, currently funded by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. In addition to Musa, a heavy incubation period will certainly be needed, we are looking for potential industrial partners and investors to be able to then start a second round of investments, obviously more substantial than the one we have had now to be able to increase the TRL of the technology and actually achieve the goal we are aiming for,” he concludes.