Sceye and SoftBank Demonstrate Laser Tracking on HAPS Flight

Sceye revealed that its August HAPS flight included a free-space optical demonstration, with a portable laser ranging system tracking the vehicle in Japan. The ST1 mission ran from Aug. 9 to Sept. 5 and also demonstrated direct-to-device connectivity and edge computing.

• The ST1 flight ran from Aug. 9 to Sept. 5 from New Mexico to Japan and back
• The Omni-SLR laser system tracked the vehicle via an NIPR corner cube reflector
• The HAPS transmitted texts, calls, internet and video to unmodified phones
• Sceye calls it a step toward optical links between ground, stratosphere and space