An improved sun pumped laser communication system for synchronous satellites in the galactic plane is provided by mounting the sun pumped laser in a sun tracking telescope pivoted in hollow gimbals placed on the axis of rotation of the satellite. The laser beam is directed to the earth or another spacecraft receiver from the satellite by a tracking telescope also pivoted in hollow gimbals placed on the axis of rotation of the satellite. The laser beam traverses the satellite along its axis of rotation by passing through the hollow gimbals. The polarization of the laser beam is adjusted for maximum efficiency and controlled to compensate for the orientation changes between the laser and modulator. By mounting the laser in the sun tracking telescope with the laser heat sink communicating with a thermally emissive face in the side of the telescope tube, the laser is cooled by thermal radiation which is always automatically directed toward deep space.
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