SoftBank and Sceye achieve world-first stratospheric laser tracking

SoftBank Corp., Hitotsubashi University, and the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) have successfully completed the world’s first demonstration of real-time ground-based tracking and laser ranging of a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) operating in the stratosphere.

The demonstration utilized a lighter-than-air HAPS platform owned by the U.S. aerospace company Sceye. A corner cube reflector (CCR) developed by NIPR was installed on the platform, allowing a compact, portable laser ranging system to transmit pulses from the ground and continuously receive reflected signals while tracking the platform's movement.

This achievement is considered a significant step toward establishing free-space optical (FSO) communications. The data collected will help researchers understand how to install optical wireless communication equipment on HAPS and how to manage light attenuation through the atmosphere. Future applications include enabling dynamic tracking of HAPS from both the ground and satellites to facilitate seamless communication between satellites, stratospheric platforms, and ground stations.