Trending Now - Chinese Orbiter Uses Laser to Target Starlink Satellite

WHO:

Wu Jian, Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications

Liu Chao, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Lijiang Observatory, southwestern China

WHAT:

A Chinese orbiter successfully targeted a Starlink satellite using a 2-watt laser.

The experiment achieved a 1Gbps laser downlink from geostationary orbit.

The downlink speed was reported to be about five times faster than Starlink.

The setup utilized 357 micro-mirrors to adjust the incoming signal in real time.

The proportion of usable signal improved from 72% to 91.1%.

WHERE:

The experiment was conducted at Lijiang Observatory in southwestern China.

The satellite was positioned approximately 36,000 km above Earth in geostationary orbit.

WHEN:

The results of the experiment were published in Acta Optica Sinica in 2026.

WHY:

The goal was to demonstrate a stable, high-speed downlink capable of overcoming atmospheric turbulence.

HOW:

The experiment combined adaptive optics and mode diversity reception to manage signal distortion.

The signal was reshaped using adaptive optics and then processed through a multi-plane light converter.

(UPDATED March 22, 2026 23:20 UTC)

In a groundbreaking experiment conducted at Lijiang Observatory in southwestern China, researchers successfully targeted a Starlink satellite using a 2-watt laser, achieving a remarkable 1Gbps laser downlink from geostationary orbit. This downlink speed was reported to be about five times faster than Starlink, with the proportion of usable signal improving from 72% to 91.1% thanks to the use of 357 micro-mirrors for real-time signal adjustment. The results, published in Acta Optica Sinica, highlight the innovative combination of adaptive optics and mode diversity reception to manage signal distortion and demonstrate a stable, high-speed downlink capable of overcoming atmospheric turbulence.