I had the pleasure of growing up watching rocket and space shuttle launches. In fact, it was a NASA engineer who encouraged me to pursue my degree in electrical engineering, saying it would allow me to use physics and math. There is more to the story, of course, but that conversation planted an early seed for me about the importance of mentorship and advisors.
Today, I still enjoy watching launches. Just as fascinating are the optical illusions they can create during dusk and dawn, when sunlight, exhaust plumes and atmospheric conditions combine to produce striking displays in the sky. These moments remind us that space exploration is not only about engineering and propulsion—it is also intricately connected to light.
In 2019, Optica held a workshop on optics in space in Melbourne, FL, USA. When I reached out to the community in advance of that meeting, I was amazed by the breadth of the work in this field. More recently, at FiO 2025, there was a session on “The Space Optics Industry: Perspectives and Opportunities.” What a great topic—and one that continues to capture the public’s imagination.
Space presents limitless possibilities for exploration, scientific inquiry and commercial enterprise, all of which push the boundaries of optical technology. Satellites and probes are equipped with specialized, purpose-built optical equipment designed to survive the rigors of the space environment, including imagers, sensors and communications systems. Earth-based optical systems, such as adaptive optics in large-aperture telescopes and high-bandwidth optical communications links, also play unique and vital roles in space missions.
This industry continues to undergo a shift in the use of optics, and several emerging trends are defining the future of space optics:
- Free-space optical communications: Laser-based systems have the potential for higher data rates, greater security and more efficient links between satellites, spacecraft and ground stations.
- Miniaturization: Smaller optical systems for microsatellites and CubeSats developed using unconventional methods can increasingly rival the performance of larger platforms.
- Advanced sensing: Optical sensors continue to expand what is possible in Earth observation, planetary science, navigation, environmental monitoring and defense-related applications.
- Quantum science: Space-based experiments in ultracold atom physics and quantum key distribution are opening new frontiers for fundamental science and secure communications.
As the cost of accessing space continues to fall, the optics community has a unique opportunity to innovate with disruptive technologies like computational imaging, freeform optics, integrated photonics and advanced laser systems. These technologies will help meet the demands of a growing space economy and perhaps inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists, just as that NASA engineer once inspired me.
—Gisele Bennett, Optica President
