Design and testing of a low SWaP optical head for optical communication
Challenges
Design of a high performance optical head for low recurring cost of series production.
Benefits
Low recurring cost
Compact, highly integrated design (low SWaP)
Low WFE design and manufacturing/assembly strategy
Low pointing error due to high bandwidth fine steering mirror, point-ahead mirror and Tx/Rx calibration strategy.
Features
10 Gbit/s Intersatellite optical link (@4400km)
Male-female configuration, assuming 4 terminals per satellite
70mm aperture
Low volume
Low mass: <3kg
Low recurring cost
Operational temperature range: -20 ˚C +40 ˚C
Survival temperature range: -40 ˚C +60 ˚C
Pointing error Tx/Rx: <3urad RMS
WFE: 100nm RMS
System Architecture
Full metal 4 mirror telescope design followed by 4 channels (transmit, receive, acquisition, tracking)
InGaAs camera for acquisition and a quadrant detector for high speed tracking and control of the fine steering mirror.
Calibration function by having a second light source from the transmit fibre that can be back-reflected using a retro reflector to the tracking channel in order to correct the Tx/Rx co-alignment
Plan
Project kick-off was at 2018-09-06, final review at 2020-12-15