Optomechanical design of STRV-2 lasercom transceiver using novel azimuth/slant gimbal

John J. Schuster; Harel Hakakha; Eric J. Korevaar

doi:10.1117/12.238415

22 April 1996 Optomechanical design of STRV-2 lasercom transceiver using novel azimuth/slant gimbal

John J. Schuster, Harel Hakakha, Eric J. Korevaar

Proceedings Volume 2699, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies VIII; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.238415
Event: Photonics West '96, 1996, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

For extremely high data rate communications between satellites, aircraft, and ground sites in situations where atmospheric interference is minimal, laser communications offers significant advantages over current radio frequency technologies in the areas of achievable data rate, size, weight, and power. Over the last two years, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), contracting through the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command, has been funding the development of a laser communications terminal to be flown on the second Space Technology Research Vehicle (STRV-2) which is projected to launch in 1998. It is hoped that a successful satellite demonstration will validate the capability and readiness of lasercom for inter-satellite crosslinks and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite downlinks to the ground. The design of the terminal is based on direct modulation of semiconductor lasers, direct detection using avalanche photodiodes, separate acquisition/tracking and communications wavelengths, atomic line filter (ALF) technology for background light rejection, separate transmit and receiver apertures, and a hemispherical field-of-regard gimbal based upon a novel design. This paper discuses details of the optomechanical design of the terminal as presented at the program's critical design review.

Citation Download Citation

John J. Schuster, Harel Hakakha, and Eric J. Korevaar "Optomechanical design of STRV-2 lasercom transceiver using novel azimuth/slant gimbal", Proc. SPIE 2699, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies VIII, (22 April 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.238415

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