Starlink's mini laser terminals are capable of achieving optical link speeds up to 25 Gbps across distances of 4,000 km and even higher at shorter ranges. This integration allows Muon's Halo satellites to operate as persistent, real-time nodes on Starlink's inter-satellite laser network, eliminating latency associated with ground-based relays and enabling continuous data flow, in-orbit processing, and live tasking from anywhere on Earth.
"This is a sea change in how space systems operate," said Pascal Stang, CTO of Muon Space. "With persistent optical broadband, Muon Halo satellites will move from being isolated vehicles to becoming active, real-time nodes on Starlink's global network. That shift transforms how missions are designed and how fast insights flow to decision-makers on Earth."
Michael Nicolls, VP of Starlink Engineering at SpaceX, added: "High-speed, low-latency connectivity on orbit is foundational for modern space missions. By integrating Starlink mini lasers, Muon's spacecraft can remain persistently connected through our in-space laser mesh, enabling real-time tasking, continuous command-and-control, and immediate data delivery to terrestrial points of presence."
Muon's Halo satellites are designed as fully integrated, network-connected platforms built for persistent, high-performance operations. By routing traffic through Starlink's in-orbit optical mesh to ground Points of Presence, Muon can now offer near-continuous connectivity, with latency from orbit to Earth measured in milliseconds. Each terminal provides up to 25 Gbps throughput, enabling continuous data streaming, cloud integration, AI inference, and closed-loop tasking - effectively transforming each spacecraft into an orbital data center extension.
Resilience and uptime are bolstered through multi-terminal configurations that ensure seamless handovers for more than 99 percent availability in low Earth orbit. All communications traverse encrypted, authenticated tunnels with user-controlled end-to-end encryption layered above Starlink's secure network.
A key early application will be Earth Fire Alliance's FireSat constellation for wildfire detection and monitoring, built by Muon Space. Incorporating Starlink's optical connectivity is expected to reduce FireSat data latency from around 20 minutes to near real time, allowing incident commanders to receive instant ignition alerts and continuously updated perimeter information during active wildfires.
"FireSat is already a game-changer for global wildfire response in terms of resolution, precision, and revisit," said Brian Collins, Executive Director of Earth Fire Alliance. "Starlink's optical connectivity offers the potential to further reduce our data delivery timeline, providing end users with the immediate information necessary to act while fires are at their earliest stages."
Muon Space President Greg Smirin emphasized that customer demand for continuous connectivity has been driving this evolution: "With Starlink's mini lasers integrated natively into Muon's Halo platform, we're turning real-time connectivity from aspiration into practice across time-critical missions."
The company is currently integrating Starlink's mini laser terminals into existing customer spacecraft, with the first Starlink-enabled Halo satellite scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2027. Muon's vertically integrated Halo technology stack - including the 500 kg-class MuSat XL platform - supports high-precision pointing, advanced payload hosting, and rapid time-to-orbit, leveraging Starlink's broadband optical backbone for seamless, cloud-grade networking performance.
Related Links
Muon Space
Space Technology News - Applications and Research
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