Description
Objective: The objective of the activity is to develop a fine tracking system with reduced complexity and size. The fine tracking of optical communication terminals shall be based on Rx-fibre or Rxbeam nutation for probing the point spread function at the focal plane and will replace the need for a tracking sensor. Targeted Improvements: Reduce the size weight, power and cost of space opticalcommunication terminals by 30%. Description: Nutation based fibre tracking has been demonstrated on NASA's Lunar Atmospheric and Dust Environmental Explorer (LADEE) satellite. The technique replaces a tracking sensor and thereby reduces the size, weight, power, and complexity of future optical communication terminals. Hence this activity will develop a tracking system based on fibre nutation suitable for space-borne optical communication terminals. Experimental testing will be carried out to fully evaluate the developed concepts. The main engineering tasks include: - Design of a spatial acquisition and tracking system where at least the latter is based on a fibre nutation approach.- Development and testing of an elegant breadboard (EBB) of the spatial acquisition and tracking system including its control electronics (hardware and software).