Is The US Space Force Spending Too Much On Satellite Laser Communications?

The US Space Force has been steadily making investments in satellite laser communications to build faster and more resilient communication networks. In terms of data rate and security, among many other metrics, laser-based satellite communication is far superior to conventional radio-frequency communications.

However, US government oversight has questioned the program’s cost and direction. Let’s look at the technical advantages, financial cost, and program management path of satellite laser communications to see if the Space Force is overinvesting or pushing toward a breakthrough.

Satellite laser communications

Satellite laser communications are also called optical communications and involve using lasers, or light waves, rather than radio waves to exchange data between space assets. This technology can dramatically increase data transmission rates.

NASA

estimates Laser communications will enable 10 to 100 times faster data transmission rates than current radio frequency systems. NASA’s Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration beamed data from the Moon to Earth at 622 Mbps – a rate that is dramatically faster than most radio-frequency systems.

Don Cornwell, manager of NASA’s Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD), said,

“These first results have far exceeded our expectation. Just imagine the ability to transmit huge amounts of data that would take days in a matter of minutes. We believe laser-based communications is the next paradigm shift in future space communications.”

Optical comms also offer unique security advantages as laser beams use a focus beam over a line-of-sight (LOS) path. This makes interception by adversaries difficult as a more direct interference method is required as compared to radio waves.

Another benefit is that optical communication devices can be more energy-efficient and lighter, which can lower the weight and power requirements of satellites as a whole.

Other organizations and countries are also pursuing laser communications as a result of these advantages. The EDRS system of the European Space Agency relays high-resolution Earth observation data in almost real time via optical comms.

On NASA’s missions, optical technology is being trialed for deep-space probes. Promising to make future high-data-demand missions feasible as satellites equipped with laser links could handle far greater data volumes and deliver information with reduced latency.

This same potential is especially attractive for military applications where rapid, secure data sharing is vital to mission success and even makes the difference between life and death.

Space Force’s laser plan

The US Space Force, through its Space Development Agency (SDA), is deploying a Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) built on small satellites with laser comm links. Rather than a few large, expensive satellites, the strategy is to launch hundreds of smaller satellites in low Earth orbits to form a resilient mesh network.

In order to avoid a single point of failure, nodes can reroute communications in the event that one is destroyed or fails. As a training and proof-of-concept, the first group of these satellites (Tranche 0) was launched in late 2023 and early 2024.

Tranche 1 had more than 160 satellites

. Later tranches will increase the number of satellites in orbit to about 1,000 within a few years. In terms of technology, laser links promise to transfer data between satellites and ground stations 10–40 times quicker than radio systems while utilizing beams that are roughly 1,000 times more concentrated.

In combat with hypersonic

weapons or other extremely rapid threats, warfighters could have access to missile

warning or targeting data almost instantly. An adversary missile or laser strike might destroy a single satellite, but the swarm would hardly be affected.

The PWSA’s design is meant to ensure continuous global coverage and rapid communication for military operations even under attack or severe technical duress.

Benefits of optical communication satellites (per NASA):

NASA’s Laser

Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) sent approximately 1.2 Gbps transfers and relays between ground stations, meanwhile, the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System aims to stream ultra-high-definition video from the Moon via lasers.

• Faster Data Rates: Optical systems can offer 10 to 100 times more bandwidth than radio systems, supporting very high-volume data transfer.
• Higher Security: Laser beams create small communication “footprints” that are hard to intercept or interfere with.
• Lower Weight and Power: Laser terminals are often lighter and use less power than radio transmitters, freeing weight and power supply for other payloads.
• Flexible Ground Systems: Optical comm links can enable new ground station setups and reduce reliance on large antenna networks.

“LLCD is the first step on our roadmap toward building the next generation of space communication capability,” said Badri Younes, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for space communications and navigation (SCaN) in Washington, which sponsored LLCD. “We are encouraged by the results of the demonstration to this point, and we are confident we are on the right path to introduce this new capability into operational service soon.”

The question of cost

To achieve their vision, the Space Force has committed significant funding. The Space Development Agency (SDA) has already awarded contracts worth roughly $10 billion for Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 satellites, and overall cost is projected to approach $35 billion.

The creation, launch, and maintenance of hundreds of satellites with optical terminals are funded by this bill but oversight members have questioned whether this amount of investment is too soon.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) cautions that while progress has been made, key laser communication capabilities have not been fully demonstrated in space. As of now, only a few of the eight planned capabilities for Tranche 0 were fully vetted and proven.

The GAO’s concern is that investing billions in follow-on satellites without validating these fundamentals risks costly redesigns or delays. Air and Space Forces Magazine included this excerpt in their report:

“Without demonstrating key laser communications technology capabilities, or [minimum viable products], SDA is risking not being able to leverage past experiences into the investments either under contract or planned for in the future,” GAO wrote. “These investments are substantial—nearly $35 billion.”

On the other hand, the threats driving the deployment of the PWSA are urgent. Adversaries are developing a myriad of anti-satellite weapons, including missiles and jamming systems. The Pentagon needs a robust space network sooner rather than later.

Following this viewpoint, the high cost is an investment in developing US defense infrastructure for the future. SDA prioritizes speed by implementing a “spiral development” methodology that iteratively improves capabilities and launches new tranches every two years.

Waiting for perfection, in the Space Force’s view, would mean falling behind in space security.

Oversight and recommendations

Balancing innovation speed with prudent oversight is a central theme in this debate. The GAO report recommends demonstrating a minimum viable product (MVP) of laser communication capability in orbit before scaling up to each next tranche. It notes that skipping such steps contradicts best practices for iterative development.

GAO essentially recommends a pause-and-test strategy: first demonstrate that the network’s core laser linkages function consistently in Tranche 0, then move on to Tranche 1, and so forth.

Though the Department of Defense claimed to have already satisfied a revised MVP for Tranche 0 by demonstrating that a proliferated constellation could be constructed, even if full laser functionality was not yet attained, the DOD acknowledged the GAO suggestions.

There is also an issue of communication and transparency. Test schedules and results were reportedly not clearly communicated to all stakeholders. Better transparency could help identify problems early and adjust course.

The Space Force has stated that Tranche 1 will bring more complete optical links into operational use, and that lessons learned from Tranche 0 are incorporated in these designs.

Nonetheless, the GAO remains wary of shifting goalposts, altering what counts as MVP after the fact can undermine accountability. As the “fast facts” read, on the GAO report webpage:

“We recommended that DOD fully demonstrate the technology’s capabilities before investing further, among other things.”

Bottom line

Is the Space Force spending too much on satellite laser communications? The answer depends on the tolerance for risk and the importance of urgency.

The promise of laser communications is real. Faster, more secure data links are poised to revolutionize satellite networks, and falling behind could pose its own dangers.

In the coming years, a widely distributed laser-linked constellation might prove to be strategically essential for national defense, making a significant expenditure justifiable. However, the GAO’s cautions emphasize that advancing without thoroughly testing the technology invites costly setbacks.

From an academic perspective, the Space Force’s laser communications program should be regarded as a high-reward project that needs to be handled carefully. Although the current spending levels are high, they support a revolutionary capability with limited performance alternatives.

To avoid overspending, the Space Force should heed the call for staged development. Validate critical laser link performance in early tranches before committing to hundreds more satellites.

Satellite laser communications stand at the cutting edge of military space technology, and whether the budget is too much will hinge on execution. With robust testing and oversight, the investment could pay off in a resilient, high-speed orbital network. Without those measures, the risk of wasted funds and delayed benefits looms large – a balance that the Space Force must carefully navigate.