Press Release

Leaf Space Partners with Odysseus Space to Develop Optical Ground Terminals and Build First Ever Global, Hybrid Ground Station Network

By SpaceRef Editor
October 26, 2021
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Leaf Space, a leading provider of ground segment
as-a-service (GSaaS) solutions, is partnering with Odysseus Space, a company developing end-
to-end laser communications systems for satellite missions, to develop a hybrid ground station
network optimized for optical and RF communications.

The two companies will work together to apply Odysseus Space’s CYCLOPS technology to
further support Leaf Space’s global Leaf Line network, offering satellite operators additional
flexibility in how they communicate with their satellites and constellations, as well as vital backup
communication options.

“The market is showing a growing desire for optical communications options as they offer
tremendous be

nefits for satellite operators like higher data rates and in space communications
for larger constellations, but it’s still important for operators to have RF options. Particularly when
optical solutions are prevented by things like weather or aren’t required for certain use cases or
operational modes,” said Giovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto, co-founder and chief strategy officer of
Leaf Space. “By partnering with Odysseus Space on this initiative, we are working towards building the first true optical-RF hybrid ground station network that will offer our customers the
highest level of flexibility and reliability on the market.”

Leaf Space’s existing SaaS-enabled Leaf Line technology allows for easy integration of additional
communication technologies, like Odysseus Space’s optical solutions. Creating this first of its kind
hybrid network will further decrease latency for communication between in-space assets to Earth
through optical Direct-to-Earth links enabled by Odysseus solutions.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Leaf Space to develop these new hybrid Ground Stations
that will further expand our abilities to provide customers with the most capable end-to-end
solutions to support their missions in space,” said Jordan Vannitsen, co-founder and chief
executive officer of Odysseus Space. “With increasing needs for higher data rate and concerns
regarding the RF spectrum congestion, the demand for optical communications is continuing to
grow and as we see constellations increase in lockstep, we know that the trend is going to
continue. Combining our two market-leading technologies is an asset to customers and we look
forward to working with the Leaf Space team.”

Leaf Space and Odysseus Space intend to complete the first hybrid enabled Ground Station by
early 2024. This project is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and funded by the
Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), which awarded Odysseus Space with a contract to support
the further development of optical communication infrastructure.

. For more information, please visit: leaf.space.

About Odysseus Space

Odysseus provides innovative products and services to facilitate the flow of goods & information
anywhere in the Solar System. Since 2016, Odysseus Space provided services to support
customers at all phases of their satellite missions. The company now focuses on developing
CYCLOPS, its end-to-end free space optical communications solution and ASTRAEUS, its optical
navigation solution. ODYSSEUS line of products firstly addresses the microsatellites LEO market
while paving the way for future applications in Space resources prospection missions.

Odysseus Space is based in Luxembourg and Taiwan. For more information, please visit:
odysseus.space

About Leaf Space 

Leaf Space is pioneering the concept of ground segment as-a-service (GSaaS) for forward-

thinking satellite and launch operators around the world. Since its inception in 2014, Leaf Space has focused on developing the highest quality ground station services and technology with the goal of creating the most efficient and valuable ground segment solutions available on the modern space market. Leaf Space is based in Lomazzo, Italy and is funded by RedSeed Ventures, Whysol Investments, and Primo Space

Media Contact

Sarah Nickell

sarah@nickellcommunications.com

Leaf Space Contact

Erika Ermoli
erika.ermoli@leaf.space
Sara Lissoni
sara.lissoni@leaf.space

Odysseus Space

info@odysseus.space 

SpaceRef staff editor.