Session
Technical Session IX: Advanced Technologies-Communications
Abstract
Free space optical communications offers high bandwidth secure communications in an unlicensed spectrum. Enabling a CubeSat with an optical communication link is challenging due to the strict stabilization and pointing requirements brought forth by the inherently narrow optical beam; solutions are often complex and costly. A modulated retroreflector (MRR) is a low power device and, by design, has a large field-of-view thus relaxing the stabilization requirements of the bus. Traditionally, MRRs have been small in area and ill-suited for long range communication links. In this paper we discuss the feasibility of enabling optical communications on a CubeSat and modeling of an increased aperture MRR for CubeSats. We also discuss the alternative MRR implementation tradeoffs and a supporting bus design for an MRR payload.
A Large Aperture Modulated Retroreflector (MRR) for CubeSat Optical Communication
Free space optical communications offers high bandwidth secure communications in an unlicensed spectrum. Enabling a CubeSat with an optical communication link is challenging due to the strict stabilization and pointing requirements brought forth by the inherently narrow optical beam; solutions are often complex and costly. A modulated retroreflector (MRR) is a low power device and, by design, has a large field-of-view thus relaxing the stabilization requirements of the bus. Traditionally, MRRs have been small in area and ill-suited for long range communication links. In this paper we discuss the feasibility of enabling optical communications on a CubeSat and modeling of an increased aperture MRR for CubeSats. We also discuss the alternative MRR implementation tradeoffs and a supporting bus design for an MRR payload.
