Laser communication delivers far higher bandwidth and lower interference than RF by transmitting data through modulated optical beams. Since 2003, Impact ES–Ventura (formerly Coastal Connections) has manufactured the space-qualified fiber optic components that make this possible, certified to ISO 9001:2015, ITAR, and NASA 8739.5.
Space communication is shifting from radio waves to light, and few companies know that transition at the fiber level the way we do. For over 20 years, our engineers have built the connectors, end-caps, and cable assemblies that keep laser links alive through launch, vacuum, and deep space — and we're ready to bring that same precision to your next program.
Laser communication, also called optical communication, free-space optical (FSO) communication, or laser comm, uses modulated light, typically near 1550 nm, to carry data between two points. It is used for:
Optical inter-satellite links (OISL) in LEO and GEO constellations
Satellite-to-ground optical downlinks
Lunar and deep-space high-data-rate links (for example, NASA's LCRD and TBIRD demonstrations)
Airborne and UAV optical communication terminals
Defense communications where low probability of intercept and high bandwidth are required
Compared to traditional RF links, laser communication offers data rates orders of magnitude higher, no spectrum-licensing burden, and inherently narrower beams that make signals harder to detect or jam.
A laser communication terminal generally contains a laser source, an optical telescope or aperture, fine- pointing optics, a fiber-coupled signal path, and a fiber-to-free-space interface. The reliability of that fiber path, and especially the connector and end-cap at the fiber-to-free-space transition, is one of the largest determinants of overall link performance.
Since 2003, we have specialized in the fiber-side components that make optical communication links reliable in vacuum, across wide temperature ranges, and at high optical power.
We work with laser communication programs at every stage:
Prototype and developmental terminals: fast-turn pigtails, matched-length cables, and one-off feedthroughs.
Flight-qualified assemblies: components built under NASA 8739.5 and ITAR-controlled processes.
Production-volume builds: We produce over 50,000 fiber optic cables annually across medical, space, defense, and industrial markets.
| Product | Function | Why it Matters for Laser Comm |
|---|---|---|
| QFC: Qualified FC Connector | Space-tested FC-style mating connector | Tested to survive 10 years of thermal cycling in space; reduces program risk on flight hardware. |
| Fiber End-Caps (SM and PM) | Sealed glass cap fused to the fiber tip | Prevents air-fiber damage at the free-space interface; Impact ES-Ventura is the world's leading supplier of fiber end-caps in ferrules and connectors. |
| High-Power SM & PM Cables | Single-mode and PM cables for high-power signals | Connectors built by Impact ES-Ventura have survived 150 W continuous and 2,000 W pulses. |
| Vacuum-Compatible Cables | Cables rated for spacecraft, payload, and chamber environments | Operate down to −200°C; no outgassing-driven failures. |
| Multi-Channel Vacuum Feedthroughs | Hermetic feedthroughs that pass multiple PM fibers into a vacuum chamber | Impact ES-Ventura is one of the only suppliers in the world capable of multi-PM-fiber feedthroughs. |
| Glass Capillaries | Precision capillaries aligning multiple fibers in a single ferrule | Critical for multi-channel optical heads and interferometric pointing systems. |
Fiber types: SM, PM, MM, LMA, photonic crystal, mid-IR
PM alignment: PM fibers aligned to one another, to stress-rod orientation, or to ferrule features, measured to 1/100° of a degree
Precision lengths: matched optical path lengths to ±0.1% + 1.5 mm; time-delay matching to ±20 ps
Polishing: 0° to 50° polish angles; ±0.5° tolerance; fiber diameters 80 µm to 3.5 mm
Splicing: PM, SM, MM, LMA, and photonic-crystal fiber splicing offered as a service
Testing wavelengths: 405, 488, 640, 780, 980, 1060, 1310, 1550 nm
Polarization Extinction Ratio (PER): measured automatically over time and temperature
Thermal cycling in-house: −65 °C to +150 °C
Extended environmental testing: through our local partner Experior Labs
ISO 9001:2015: Quality Management System
ITAR Registered: controlled defense-article work supported in-house
NASA 8739.5: Certified operators for space flight hardware
Every laser communication assembly is built under documented termination procedures that exceed industry standards. The same processes used on space-qualified hardware are applied across our defense and commercial work.
The engineers who designed the QFC connector, the end-caps, and the vacuum feedthroughs on this page are the ones who'll read your message, not a sales rep, not a queue. Tell us what you're building.
Impact Electronic Solutions is a multi-site electronics manufacturing family with facilities coast to coast. Laser communication programs can source under a single supplier relationship from:
Ventura, California: fiber optic cable assemblies, space-qualified QFC connectors, fiber end-caps, vacuum feedthroughs, and the laser communication components covered on this page.
Vancouver, Washington: full-service PCBA manufacturing and full-turnkey electronics production supporting medical, defense, aerospace, unmanned systems, industrial, and instrumentation programs.
Grants Pass, Oregon: cable and wire harness assembly, electronic sub-assemblies, electromechanical assemblies, and full box builds, with cable & harness manufacturing experience dating back to 1974.
Clearwater, Florida: turnkey production for aerospace, defense, and homeland security customers, aligned with U.S. Department of Defense affordability initiatives.
Cranston, Rhode Island: design and engineering services, including electrical and software engineering for high-end medical, industrial, and manufacturing products.
The result is one trusted partner spanning fiber, electronics, design, and integration — supported coast to coast.
Laser (optical) communication carries data on modulated light, typically near 1550 nm, while RF communication uses radio waves. Laser links deliver data rates orders of magnitude higher than RF, do not require radio spectrum licensing, and produce narrower beams that are inherently harder to detect or jam. RF remains better for wide-area, non-line-of-sight links; laser is preferred for high-bandwidth point-to-point links such as satellite-to-satellite crosslinks and satellite-to-ground downlinks.
A laser communication terminal typically uses single-mode (SM) and polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber cable assemblies, a space- or environmentally qualified mating connector, sealed fiber end-caps at the fiber-to-free-space interface, and for orbital and payload systems, vacuum-compatible cables and feedthroughs. Impact ES–Ventura manufactures all of these components.
End-caps protect the fiber core from contamination and damage at the air–fiber interface, where high optical power can otherwise cause catastrophic failure. They also expand the beam at the exit face, reducing power density. Impact ES–Ventura is the world's leading supplier of fiber end-caps for SM and PM fibers in ferrules and connectors.
A space-qualified connector is one that has been tested and shown to survive the thermal, vacuum, vibration, and radiation environments of spaceflight without performance degradation. Impact ES–Ventura's Qualified FC (QFC) connector was tested to survive ten years of thermal cycling in space.
We test and qualify components at 405, 488, 640, 780, 980, 1060, 1310, and 1550 nm. The 1550 nm wavelength is the most common for space-based laser communication because of its eye-safety properties, low atmospheric attenuation, and mature telecom component ecosystem.
Yes. Impact ES–Ventura is ITAR registered and supports defense and government programs subject to U.S. export controls. We are also ISO 9001:2015 certified, and our operators are certified to NASA 8739.5 for spaceflight assembly work.
Yes. We routinely terminate, polish, splice, and qualify SM and PM fibers for laser communication systems, including PM fiber alignment to within 1/100° of a degree, PM splicing as a service, and PER testing across temperature.
