LEOCAT - Optical Communication Optical Head | ESA's ARTES Programmes

European Space Agency

Status: Completed
Last updated: 2021-03-05 00:00:00
Activity Code: 5E.010

Objectives

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

Current status

Project is finished

Documentation

Documentation may be requested

Status date

Friday, March 5, 2021 - 11:10