Bluestar Optical (Shanghai) Aerospace Technology

Bluestar Optical (Shanghai) Aerospace Technology, also known as Laser Link, is a specialized developer of laser communication solutions for the commercial aerospace sector. The company's initial team was formed in early 2018, establishing a research and development center in Shanghai. Officially incorporated in 2021, Bluestar Optical focuses on the research, development, production, and sales of precision optical-mechanical payloads and components. The founder and CEO, Yan Zhixin, brings 16 years of experience in national-level aerospace project research and design, including involvement in China's lunar exploration, manned spaceflight, and Mars exploration missions. The broader team comprises individuals from prestigious institutions like the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Harbin Institute of Technology, many with extensive backgrounds in aerospace research institutes.

The company's business model is centered on providing end-to-end solutions for space-based laser communication. It addresses the growing demand for high-speed, high-capacity, and secure data transmission, particularly for satellite internet constellations. Bluestar Optical operates on an order-driven model, developing products for clients that include national aerospace entities and commercial space companies. Revenue is generated through the sale of these sophisticated hardware systems. The firm has successfully secured multiple rounds of funding, including a recent Series B round in June 2025, to scale production, expand its product lines, and for further research and development.

Bluestar Optical has developed a comprehensive product matrix covering space, air, land, and sea applications. Its core offerings include several generations of spaceborne laser communication terminals designed for inter-satellite links (both co-orbit and off-orbit) and satellite-to-ground communication. The company also produces airborne laser communication terminals for platforms like drones, and is expanding into ground and ship-based systems. A key achievement was the successful launch and in-orbit testing of its first spaceborne laser payloads in May 2022. By early 2025, the company had over twenty communication products operating stably in orbit and had delivered nearly a hundred units, demonstrating a capacity for mass production in the thousands. The company distinguishes itself through its ability to independently manage the entire production and R&D process, including optical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal engineering. It has also established a factory in Changshu to support批量化 production, a move intended to meet the increasing demand as satellite constellation projects accelerate.

Keywords: laser communication, space technology, satellite communications, optical payloads, aerospace engineering, inter-satellite links, satellite internet, commercial space, optical-mechanical design, spaceborne terminals, airborne communication, ground station communication, free-space optical communication, FSO, satellite constellation, precision optics, aerospace components, data transmission, satellite networking, high-speed communication, space-to-ground communication, UAV communication, drone communication, optical wireless communication, aerospace manufacturing