Description
Objective: The objective of the activity is to first design a Laser Communication Terminal (LCT) concept suitable for communicationover lunar distances. In a second step, the activity will develop an engineering model of a CCSDS compatible transceiver with critical functions including coding, synchronisation, and modulation. Targeted Improvements: Enabling a European or Canadian lunar communication terminal operating with a data rate one order of magnitude higher than current designs, with Earth (from 100s Mbps to 10Gbps), and compatible with the lunar orbit environment. Description:This activity will enable a European or Canadian laser optical terminal source of future lunar LCTs, requiring high data rate links. LCT links are currently available for near-Earth (LEO, GEO) and for deep-space (beyond the Moon) applications. The latter is not suited for this type of link as it is based on the ""high-photon efficiency"" standard and limited to data rate inferior to that required for lunar communications. Lunar links require the development of both a modified LCT concept and a new transceiver, capable of delivering at least 5 Gbps, for which the standard is currently under definition at CCSDS. Currently several LCTs (transceiver included) for Earth orbit applications are available and several others are under development in Europe. The Lunar LCT concept and transceiver that will be developed in this activity, will have to be adapted for lunar distances and the specific operating environment. The design shall support coding, synchronisation, and modulation forat least 5 Gbps rate over lunar distance.