Session
Technical Session VI: Ground Systems and Communications
Abstract
The Miniature Optical Communication Instrument is a NASA-sponsored compact, pulsed optical communication system for distant, power-constrained small satellites. The primary motivation for this system is to reduce the power required for the laser transmitter and to enable variable repetition rates in order to produce a versatile instrument for small satellites down to the CubeSat scale. A differential pulse-based scheme is driven by an FPGA-based Software-Defined Pulse Modulator. This not only improves the reach of the system but also reduces the size and principally the power required, with only a small reduction in data throughput. In addition to optical communication, the MOCI also has potential capabilities in precision clock synchronization and navigation beyond Earth orbit.
A Novel, Low Power Optical Communication Instrument for Small Satellites
The Miniature Optical Communication Instrument is a NASA-sponsored compact, pulsed optical communication system for distant, power-constrained small satellites. The primary motivation for this system is to reduce the power required for the laser transmitter and to enable variable repetition rates in order to produce a versatile instrument for small satellites down to the CubeSat scale. A differential pulse-based scheme is driven by an FPGA-based Software-Defined Pulse Modulator. This not only improves the reach of the system but also reduces the size and principally the power required, with only a small reduction in data throughput. In addition to optical communication, the MOCI also has potential capabilities in precision clock synchronization and navigation beyond Earth orbit.
