#: locale=en
## Tour
### Description
### Title
tour.name = Optical Comm
## Skin
### Button
Button_3C131193_287D_D360_41AD_E695CEC8500B.label = • Optical Transmission Systems
Button_3C131193_287D_D360_41AD_E695CEC8500B_mobile.label = • Transmission
Button_7DB31382_7065_343F_41D6_641BBE1B2562.label = Optical Comms Overview Video
Button_7DB31382_7065_343F_41D6_641BBE1B2562_mobile.label = Overview Video
Button_7DB33382_7065_343F_41B1_0B0F019C1828.label = Welcome to Optical Comms
Button_7DB33382_7065_343F_41B1_0B0F019C1828_mobile.label = Welcome
Button_7DBC8382_7065_343F_4183_17B44518DB40.label = • Laser Comm Dev Lab
Button_7DBC8382_7065_343F_4183_17B44518DB40_mobile.label = • Dev Lab
Button_7DBCA382_7065_343F_41DB_48D975E3D9EC.label = • Quantum Tech Lab
Button_7DBCA382_7065_343F_41DB_48D975E3D9EC_mobile.label = • Quantum Lab
Button_916E4F9D_B9B1_D14E_41E2_EC7A5820884B.label = QUICK NAVIGATION
Button_916E4F9D_B9B1_D14E_41E2_EC7A5820884B_mobile.label = QUICK NAV
Button_99583990_B9B0_5156_41D8_45532B57372F.label = • Mobile Laser Beacon
Button_99583990_B9B0_5156_41D8_45532B57372F_mobile.label = • Mobile Beacon
Button_9D316F19_BE50_5156_41C7_BADC0D2A4EC7.label = • Optical Comm Dome
Button_9D316F19_BE50_5156_41C7_BADC0D2A4EC7_mobile.label = • Optical Dome
Button_F3E0EB9B_D894_995F_41E5_FC4D6B547307.label = www.aerospace.org
Button_F3E0EB9B_D894_995F_41E5_FC4D6B547307_mobile.label = www.aerospace.org
### Multiline Text
HTMLText_7DB2E382_7065_343F_41C2_951F708170F1.html = The Aerospace Corporation
www.aero.org
John Binkley
SYSTEMS DIRECTOR
The Aerospace Corporation
www.aero.org
John Binkley
SYSTEMS DIRECTOR
We test our laser communication systems by flying them on our CubeSats. This Optical Comm Dome, conveniently located on top of our El Segundo, CA lab, receives the laser signals from our CubeSats. We have other ground stations in other locations that help us achieve broader coverage.
Aerospace's Rogue Alpha/Beta CubeSats used laser communications to send compelling imagery of a hurricane to Earth, demonstrating how laser comm can enable a small satellite to deliver large amounts of remote sensing data for weather and other research.
Communication is critical for satellites. Optical communication uses a laser to transmit information instead of the traditional method of using radio frequency waves. Optical communication is smaller, lighter, uses less power, and provides increased security and much higher data rates.
In our labs, we are working on validating next generation laser transmitters and detectors. Laser beams are very narrow and so we also work to develop the precision pointing and tracking that is critical for fast-moving satellites in space.
We test our laser communication systems by flying them on our CubeSats, and receive the signals at our ground stations, including the Optical Comm Dome on the roof of our El Segundo, CA labs. We also have mobile optical ground systems.
There is a constant need for faster, lighter, and better satellite communications systems. Explore our labs and ground stations to see what we’re doing to make that happen.
This mobile lab sends a laser into space to be detected by a satellite during calibration or validation tests of new sensors. It can be taken to any location needed to perform the test, and has even gone as far as Australia. It is a low-cost option that can be deployed on short notice.
Fiber lasers have revolutionized laser applications in manufacturing, medicine, communications, and space. They are compact and flexible compared to traditional lasers, which makes them mission enabling for many applications. Aerospace is researching fiber lasers and evaluating the related industrial supply chain for space relevant missions.
Communication is critical for satellites. Optical communication uses a laser to transmit information instead of the traditional method of using radio frequency waves. Optical communication is smaller, lighter, uses less power, and provides increased security and much higher data rates.
In our labs, we are working on validating next generation laser transmitters and detectors. Laser beams are very narrow and so we also work to develop the precision pointing and tracking that is critical for fast-moving satellites in space.
We test our laser communication systems by flying them on our CubeSats, and receive the signals at our ground stations, including the Optical Comm Dome on the roof of our El Segundo, CA labs. We also have mobile optical ground systems.
There is a constant need for faster, lighter, and better satellite communications systems. Explore our labs and ground stations to see what we’re doing to make that happen.
After the laser light exits the fiber system, additional optics like mirrors and lenses condition the beam to have the correct size, shape, and other properties before sending it to a telescope for transmission.
When constructing a fiber optic system, the optical fibers from different components are spliced together so that light can move from one component to the next with as little loss as possible. This device performs this splicing process by carefully aligning the fiber ends with each other and using electrical sparks to melt the glass fibers together.
A laser beam spreads significantly as it travels from the transmitter to the receiver. If the receiver is further away, the transmitter must have higher laser power for the receiver to detect the light and decode the data. If one laser is not powerful enough, the light containing the data must be amplified. Fiber optics are an excellent tool for this task on a CubeSat because, like the laser itself, optical fiber is very compact. Long lengths of fiber can be spooled up as in this testbed to make small but powerful fiber-optic devices.
Since 1971, an Aerospace beacon system like this truck has been involved in every early-orbit test of a Defense Satellite Program or Space-Based Infrared System satellite.
The waveforms we investigate are aimed towards improving spectral efficiency, power efficiency, and physical layer security. We have a variety of optical and electrical diagnostics to study channel impairments and their impact on transmission system performance.
This truck contains an optical bench and electronics exactly like those found in a typical laser lab. A laser and optical system is laid out on the table just as it would be in the lab, including any fiber optics, larger lasers, steering, and beam conditioning. To transmit, laser light is directed along the table to a periscope inside the central pillar that uses mirrors to bounce the light up to the roof of the truck. A steerable transmitter on the roof directs the outgoing laser light to the target.
In this lab, we emulate optical intersatellite links using transmission systems testbeds. We use a variety of components from terrestrial fiber telecom to leverage the large bandwidth and data capacity provided by laser beams.
The testbeds are interdisciplinary and involve the intersection of radio frequency (RF) hardware, optical devices, fiber optics, and eventually free-space optics. This allows us to be creative and push the envelope in terms of modulating a laser's intensity, phase, polarization and multiplexing of several laser wavelengths.
Aerospace is looking beyond currently emerging technologies and exploring communication technologies that may emerge 10-20 years from now. One example is this instrument, which uses quantum properties of light to create secure communication channels and detect eavesdroppers.
In 2018, Aerospace demonstrated the first space-to-ground optical comm link from a CubeSat to the ground, as part of the Optical Communications and Sensor Demonstration (OCSD) mission, which was funded by NASA. The laser signal was received at this dome.
The laser is hard-mounted to each OCSD satellite, which means that in order to point the laser, the entire satellite must rotate. This unique design simplifies the laser comm system since beam steering mirrors are not required, but the satellite now has to accurately point while downloading data. The team developed a highly accurate attitude control system, including tiny star trackers, which allow the spacecraft to point to an accuracy of 0.025 degrees, 40 times better than was previously possible for this size satellite.
Strengthening the cybersecurity of space assets is critical, and Aerospace is exploring ways these systems can leverage the laws of physics to remain provably secure.
An optical communication transmitter and receiver must point to each other stably in order to send and receive data. A satellite controls its pointing by rotating the entire satellite to point its telescope in the correct direction and by using adjustable internal steering mirrors for fine tuning. This testbed simulates this scenario in the laboratory to test out components and control techniques for pointing and tracking.
A compact diode laser mounted to a circuit board to control the power output and temperature of the laser chip. The laser itself is the gold package mounted on the center of the board.
Fiber optics are convenient for ground-based systems such as this because components can be swapped around easily. The optical fibers are packaged into cables that can be plugged and unplugged to reconfigure the device.
Aerospace evaluates cutting-edge components to assess their suitability for next-generation optical communication systems. This array detector can count individual photons of light. Such high sensitivity reduces the amount of laser power the transmitter needs to use to send data.
Modern diode lasers are small chips that can fit into compact packages, 1”x1” or smaller. In this CubeSat payload, the small laser is visible behind the much larger control circuit board.