Session
Technical Poster Session III
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
This paper describes progress toward supporting full duplex Earth-to-ground links and intersatellite links (ISLs) capable of supporting mesh networks around Earth, the sun, and deep space. The paper reviews recent advances in compact free space optical (FSO) terminals at Fibertek and potential uses for a NASA Science Enabling Technologies for Heliophysics (SETH) mission and ISLs in general. The laser communications terminal (LCT) design is modular, flexible, and can accommodate a variety of waveforms and data formats. Fibertek has a unit deployed in space for initial testing to be followed by additional units for more broad-based market applications.
Our first-generation optical telescope assembly was originally designed for NASA Deep Space CubeSat laser communications. It was customized as a complete commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) LCT system which is 2U in size, 2.5 kg in mass, and provides Gbps data rates. The optical transceiver has a shared transmit/receive optical path that uses a laser beacon to ensure high pointing accuracy, active control of the pointing stability, and a strong optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during link operation. The terminal has been manufactured and tested, providing high-accuracy pointing and low jitter.
Our second generation LCT system features bi-directional operation and support for an eye-safe beacon for uplink applications. Bi-directional operation is attractive for ISLs; uplinks of data; pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT); position, navigation, and timing (PNT); and telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C). The eye-safe uplink beacon makes it easier to get FCC authorization for operation.
The LCT includes a 64 mm telescope and a 1.5-μm fiber amplifier with >2 W optical power that enables future updates to allow operation up to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) and deep space.
Advances in CubeSat Laser Communications Transceiver
Utah State University, Logan, UT
This paper describes progress toward supporting full duplex Earth-to-ground links and intersatellite links (ISLs) capable of supporting mesh networks around Earth, the sun, and deep space. The paper reviews recent advances in compact free space optical (FSO) terminals at Fibertek and potential uses for a NASA Science Enabling Technologies for Heliophysics (SETH) mission and ISLs in general. The laser communications terminal (LCT) design is modular, flexible, and can accommodate a variety of waveforms and data formats. Fibertek has a unit deployed in space for initial testing to be followed by additional units for more broad-based market applications.
Our first-generation optical telescope assembly was originally designed for NASA Deep Space CubeSat laser communications. It was customized as a complete commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) LCT system which is 2U in size, 2.5 kg in mass, and provides Gbps data rates. The optical transceiver has a shared transmit/receive optical path that uses a laser beacon to ensure high pointing accuracy, active control of the pointing stability, and a strong optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during link operation. The terminal has been manufactured and tested, providing high-accuracy pointing and low jitter.
Our second generation LCT system features bi-directional operation and support for an eye-safe beacon for uplink applications. Bi-directional operation is attractive for ISLs; uplinks of data; pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT); position, navigation, and timing (PNT); and telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C). The eye-safe uplink beacon makes it easier to get FCC authorization for operation.
The LCT includes a 64 mm telescope and a 1.5-μm fiber amplifier with >2 W optical power that enables future updates to allow operation up to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) and deep space.
