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Starlink Mini Lasers Will Link Muon’s Halo Satellites for Near Real‑Time Data Relay

Muon targets early 2027 on‑orbit tests after SpaceX’s August mini‑laser demo to prove near‑instant routing through Starlink’s optical mesh.

Overview

  • SpaceX is supplying Starlink optical terminals to Muon Space so future Halo satellites can route traffic through Starlink’s inter‑satellite laser network.
  • The mini terminals are advertised to deliver up to 25 Gbps over roughly 4,000 km, shifting data off radio links and enabling persistent low‑latency connectivity in LEO.
  • Muon says it will test the capability in the first quarter of 2027 with customer deployments planned the following quarter, and the first Starlink‑enabled Halo satellite slated for early 2027.
  • For missions like the Earth Fire Alliance’s FireSat, Muon claims latency could drop from about 20 minutes to near real time, improving wildfire detection and updates.
  • The arrangement is not exclusive; Muon plans one to four terminals per satellite and cites 70–80% persistence with a single terminal, while touting 99% uptime and encrypted tunnels as company assertions pending in‑orbit validation.