FAROS

An autonomous multistrom cluster of satellites with dynamic rearrangement: a communication network for space object identification, cargo transfer, and human missions. Instead of confining traffic to the surface, FAROS spreads a backbone across orbits at every altitude, so data can climb to a higher orbit and take a shorter path.

  • AuthorAthanasia Nikolova, June 2026
  • MentorDr Nick Koukoufilippas. Oxford University, Department of Physics, Sub-Department of Astrophysics
  • MethodPython simulation across multiple orbital shells; Dijkstra shortest-path over the inter-satellite link graph
  • Software builtInteractive 3D Earth with adjustable orbit count, altitude, and satellites per orbit
  • ArtifactA space backbone lowers latency and is more stable than surface routing, and is not exposed to weather or ground infrastructure failure
Diagram of the FAROS architecture: a hyper-fast photon backbone, backbone data points, LEO access points, and Earth client devices

F A R O S

FAROS is a system for near Space management. My research proposes the synergy of satellites and backbones dispersed in all-altitude orbits. Because of its multistrom features, FAROS allows fast data transfer and communication. Data travel following the shortest destination. Able to go in a higher orbit, data are not confined to follow a straight-line path.

Because traffic is dispersed to thousands of satellites instead of individual points, satellites are capable of managing tremendous amount of data and supporting heavy loaded traffic in Space.

FAROS is the Greek name for lighthouse. I consider Space the greatest ocean. FAROS will give us hope, navigation, and a clear place to sail. FAROS will be a not-so-distant from Earth Sun, and we will make use of its light.

I have dreamt, and developed FAROS only in its theoretical form. Now, I want to implement it. Implementation requires many more researches and researchers. The work you can view in here is only the FAROS 1: the establishment of a neat, well-oranized near Space.

In the future, I imagine me having space infrastructure, and cooperate with lots of scientists, and politicians. I consider politics as powerful as economy when it comes to science. I would be pleased to develop or even establish the science of Spacepolitics because my research FAROS is based on it. For me, Space must be separated from geopolitics because in Space there is nothing to create borders that distinguish property, and create conflicts. Space belongs to all, and I want to cooperate with all.

FAROS 1 is done. FAROS 2 needs collaborators.

The theoretical work is finished and written up. Implementation needs more research and more researchers.