LEO to ground optical communications from a small satellite platform

T. S. Rose; S. W. Janson; S. LaLumondiere; N. Werner; D. H. Hinkley; D. W. Rowen; R. A. Fields; R. P. Welle

doi:10.1117/12.2087275

16 March 2015 LEO to ground optical communications from a small satellite platform

T. S. Rose, S. W. Janson, S. LaLumondiere, N. Werner, D. H. Hinkley, D. W. Rowen, R. A. Fields, R. P. Welle

Proceedings Volume 9354, Free-Space Laser Communication and Atmospheric Propagation XXVII; 93540I (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2087275
Event: SPIE LASE, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

A pair of 2.2 kg CubeSats using COTS hardware is being developed for a proof-of-principle optical communications demo from a 450-600 km LEO orbit to ground. The 10x10x15 cm platform incorporates a 25% wall-plug efficient 10-W Yb fiber transmitter emitting at 1.06 μm. Since there are no gimbals on board, the entire spacecraft is body-steered toward the ground station. The pointing accuracy of the LEO craft, which governs the data rate capability, is expected to be ~ 0.1-0.2 deg. Two optical ground stations, located at the Mt. Wilson observatory, have receiver apertures of 30 and 80 cm. Launch of the CubeSat pair is anticipated to be mid to late 2015.

Citation Download Citation

T. S. Rose, S. W. Janson, S. LaLumondiere, N. Werner, D. H. Hinkley, D. W. Rowen, R. A. Fields, and R. P. Welle "LEO to ground optical communications from a small satellite platform", Proc. SPIE 9354, Free-Space Laser Communication and Atmospheric Propagation XXVII, 93540I (16 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2087275

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available