Microscopic "Ski-Jumps" Could Shrink Spacecraft LiDAR to the Size of a Microchip

Microscopic "Ski-Jumps" Could Shrink Spacecraft LiDAR to the Size of a Microchip
By Andy Tomaswick (https://ift.tt/ZxXM4ro)

Every ounce counts when launching a rocket, which is why considerations for the Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) of every component matters so much. For decades, one of the heaviest and most power-hungry components on a spacecraft has been its optical and communications hardware - specifically the bulky mechanical mirror used for LiDAR and free-space laser communications. But a new paper, published in Nature by researchers at MIT, MITRE, and Sandia National Laboratories, might have just fundamentally changed the SWaP considerations of LiDAR systems. Their technology, which they’re called a “photonic ski-jump” could one day revolutionize how spacecraft communicate.

March 17, 2026 at 12:58AM
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