Capella releases first images from Acadia-10, its first satellite carrying a laser communications terminal

IonQ/Capella SAR constellation

Capella published the first radar images from Acadia-10, launched in March 2026, and is finishing its checkout before testing the onboard Mynaric optical terminal at 2.5 Gbps. The terminal follows the Space Development Agency's standard, so imagery could flow through military relay satellites instead of waiting hours for a ground station.

• Capella's radar satellites weigh 175–195 kg and carry 700 W of solar power.
• The optical head is large relative to the satellite and needed significant design iteration.
• Later Acadia satellites switch to Skyloom terminals from 2027; IonQ owns both Capella and Skyloom.
• IonQ aims to cut task-to-delivery times from hours toward minutes.