Session
Technical Poster Session 4
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
Small satellites and CubeSats are playing an increasingly larger role in technology demonstrations, research, and obtaining data for commercial use from space. As these use cases and applications for CubeSats increase and expand the need to get fast, secure and reliable access to the data gathered by the payloads on these spacecraft also increases. To support these developments AAC Hyperion together with TNO has developed a down-to-earth laser communication module for small satellites and CubeSats with a downlink capability of 1 Gbit/s, namely CubeCAT.
One of the challenges that needed to be solved to ensure success was how to deal with the pointing of the unit both for up-link and down-link purposes. Once this could be achieved the next challenge was the stability of the pointing mechanism since the pointing accuracy and stability of the laser link directly affect the link budget and achievable data rate. In other words rejection of mechanical vibrations and other disturbances. The goal of the development project was to develop such a system with a form factor and mass suitable for implementation on CubeSats. This meant that a maximum volume of 1U was set as a requirement and a maximum mass of <2 kg.
System Architecture for a CubeSat DTE Laser Communication System
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Small satellites and CubeSats are playing an increasingly larger role in technology demonstrations, research, and obtaining data for commercial use from space. As these use cases and applications for CubeSats increase and expand the need to get fast, secure and reliable access to the data gathered by the payloads on these spacecraft also increases. To support these developments AAC Hyperion together with TNO has developed a down-to-earth laser communication module for small satellites and CubeSats with a downlink capability of 1 Gbit/s, namely CubeCAT.
One of the challenges that needed to be solved to ensure success was how to deal with the pointing of the unit both for up-link and down-link purposes. Once this could be achieved the next challenge was the stability of the pointing mechanism since the pointing accuracy and stability of the laser link directly affect the link budget and achievable data rate. In other words rejection of mechanical vibrations and other disturbances. The goal of the development project was to develop such a system with a form factor and mass suitable for implementation on CubeSats. This meant that a maximum volume of 1U was set as a requirement and a maximum mass of <2 >kg.
