Session
Session X: Ground Systems
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
As advancements in small satellite technologies continue to improve in precision and functionality, the volume of data produced has grown exponentially. The existing balance of size, weight, and power (SWaP) in radio frequency (RF) systems is unable to keep up with these advancements, necessitating a new medium for data transfer. Laser-based communications represent the future of data transmission technology, promising to increase bandwidths into the tens to hundreds of gigabits per second and facilitate larger data transmissions to earth. This enhances the versatility, functionality, and significance of SmallSats in data collection missions.
AAC Clyde Space’s subsidiary, AAC Hyperion, in collaboration with their partner TNO from the Netherlands, have developed the CubeCAT Laser Communications Terminal (LCT). CubeCAT is a compact, high-performance LCT designed for use in CubeSat and SmallSat systems. The LCT establishes a two-way space-to-ground communication link between the spacecraft and an optical ground station, offering downlink speeds of up to 1 Gbps and an uplink data rate of 200 kbps.
As part of the innovative in-orbit demonstration mission, NorSat-TD, the CubeCAT LCT was launched on the SpaceX Transporter 7 mission in April 2023. The configuration used for this mission was named SmallCAT. Utilizing the TNO GoCAT ground station in The Hague, The Netherlands, the SmallCAT has successfully established a link and testing is in progress to refine and develop the overall communication chain. The consortium, which is already developing a coarse pointing assembly (CPA) as part of the TNO HemiCAT project, will use these examples and others from our in-orbit demonstration to guide the development of future iterations.
This paper will provide a summarized overview of the technology developed to enable the demonstration of data transfer from space to ground via free space optical link. The results from the IOD mission will be presented. Details such as overall performance, mission profiles, light received at the Optical Ground Station (OGS), free space channel conditions, orbital parameters and throughput will be discussed.
Additional experiments are planned to test the boundaries of the system. These results and insights will be used as building blocks for enhancing the LCT’s performance in line with the development projects mentioned above. All significant results and findings will be presented with comments on outlook and further development.
Assessing the Results of a Space-To-Ground Data Transfer Link of a 1U Laser Communication Terminal for SmallSats
Utah State University, Logan, UT
As advancements in small satellite technologies continue to improve in precision and functionality, the volume of data produced has grown exponentially. The existing balance of size, weight, and power (SWaP) in radio frequency (RF) systems is unable to keep up with these advancements, necessitating a new medium for data transfer. Laser-based communications represent the future of data transmission technology, promising to increase bandwidths into the tens to hundreds of gigabits per second and facilitate larger data transmissions to earth. This enhances the versatility, functionality, and significance of SmallSats in data collection missions.
AAC Clyde Space’s subsidiary, AAC Hyperion, in collaboration with their partner TNO from the Netherlands, have developed the CubeCAT Laser Communications Terminal (LCT). CubeCAT is a compact, high-performance LCT designed for use in CubeSat and SmallSat systems. The LCT establishes a two-way space-to-ground communication link between the spacecraft and an optical ground station, offering downlink speeds of up to 1 Gbps and an uplink data rate of 200 kbps.
As part of the innovative in-orbit demonstration mission, NorSat-TD, the CubeCAT LCT was launched on the SpaceX Transporter 7 mission in April 2023. The configuration used for this mission was named SmallCAT. Utilizing the TNO GoCAT ground station in The Hague, The Netherlands, the SmallCAT has successfully established a link and testing is in progress to refine and develop the overall communication chain. The consortium, which is already developing a coarse pointing assembly (CPA) as part of the TNO HemiCAT project, will use these examples and others from our in-orbit demonstration to guide the development of future iterations.
This paper will provide a summarized overview of the technology developed to enable the demonstration of data transfer from space to ground via free space optical link. The results from the IOD mission will be presented. Details such as overall performance, mission profiles, light received at the Optical Ground Station (OGS), free space channel conditions, orbital parameters and throughput will be discussed.
Additional experiments are planned to test the boundaries of the system. These results and insights will be used as building blocks for enhancing the LCT’s performance in line with the development projects mentioned above. All significant results and findings will be presented with comments on outlook and further development.
