World’s smallest space laser station changes global connectivity by bypassing ‘vulnerabilities associated with land and undersea cables’

Archangel Lightworks has successfully tested the world’s smallest deployable operational optical ground station, demonstrating secure and rapid data transfer with satellites in low Earth orbit.
The UK government has welcomed the achievement, with UK Space Minister Liz Lloyd highlighting its contribution to strengthening global connectivity, economic growth and national security.
The system has completed several tests to comply with the US Space Development Agency’s laser communications standard while maintaining portability with a form factor of 1.1 m high and 0.7 diameter, while foregoing the need for a protective dome.

Archangel Lightworks, a UK-based optical and laser communications company, recently announced the successful conclusion of its testing of the world’s smallest deployable operational optical ground station, the TERRA-M.

Measuring just 1.1 m in height and 0.7 m in diameter, the TERRA-M enables mobile deployment while enabling secure and rapid communications with satellites in low Earth orbit.

This is a significantly more efficient option, effectively addressing the size, weight and power (SWaP) constraints that legacy ground stations face.

A powerful and portable summit to the future of communication

The TERRA-M completed several tests to verify that it complied with the U.S. Space Development Agency’s laser communications standard during a multi-day trial. This achievement is doubly impressive considering its small size.

The portable nature of the TERRA-M was highlighted by the CEO of Archangel Lightworks: “The TERRA-M is one of a kind capable of performing fast and secure data transfer with satellites while being small enough to be deployed and redeployed when needed.

Accolades also poured in from several industry giants and government officials, including UK Space Minister Liz Lloyd, who called Archangel Lightworks’ achievements “an excellent example of world-leading British innovation in next-generation space technology.”

The size of TERRA-M and its ability to deploy quickly make the underlying technology applicable to commercial and industrial defense applications, allowing it to address issues such as long deployment times, temporary needs, and internet coverage for communities that would otherwise be difficult to support.

Archangel Lightworks has many high-profile investors who have now invested up to $20 million in the company, including Santander Alternative Investments, National Security Strategic Investment Fund, Blackfinch Ventures, Oxford Capital, Lycka Limited and Oxford Science Enterprises, with a recent Series A funding round bringing in $13.5 million.

It also benefits from the support of the UK Space Agency, the Department of Science and Technology (DSIT) and the Ministry of Defence, strengthening its multi-pronged industry and government links.

With the underlying technology also attracting foreign buyers, including Omantel of the Sultanate of Oman, which signed a deal in 2025 to accelerate solutions such as TERRA-M, many interested parties beyond domestic investors are interested in the cutting-edge technology at play, even as it continues to move from a proof of concept to a readily available solution, with Archangel Lightworks stating that units are available for purchase and service contracts are now underway.

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