NASA’s LCOT (low-cost optical terminal) FSOS (free-space optical subsystem): concept, design, build, and test

Patrick L. Thompson; Armen Caroglanian; Jeffrey A. Guzek; Stephen A Hall; Robert E. Lafon; Kristoffer C. Olsen; Daniel A. Paulson; Haleh Safavi; Predrag Sekulic; Oscar Ta; Mark E. Wilson

doi:10.1117/12.2653355

15 March 2023 NASA’s LCOT (low-cost optical terminal) FSOS (free-space optical subsystem): concept, design, build, and test

Patrick L. Thompson, Armen Caroglanian, Jeffrey A. Guzek, Stephen A Hall, Robert E. Lafon, Kristoffer C. Olsen, Daniel A. Paulson, Haleh Safavi, Predrag Sekulic, Oscar Ta, Mark E. Wilson

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12413, Free-Space Laser Communications XXXV; 124130X (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2653355
Event: SPIE LASE, 2023, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We present the status of ongoing work at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to build a prototype, low-costof- production, flexibly-configured ground terminal for space optical communication. For laser telecommunication to be cost effective for future missions, a wide-spread global network of operationally responsive optical terminals should be established. There has been a decades-old need for a single modular open systems approach (MOSA) ground terminal architecture capable of supporting multiple space missions ranging from LEO to Lunar distances with 2-way laser communications. At the heart of LCOT’s design concept is the Free-Space Optical Subsytem (FSOS). The major subassemblies of LCOT/FSOS that address most optical comms configurations are : (1) Single 700mm F/12 Nasmyth folded Rx R-C Telescope, (2) Four independent 150mm diameter high-power all-reflective Tx beam directors (XOA), (3) Non-coherent direct detection Rx bench on starboard side of telescope (SOB), and (4) Coherent (possibly Quantum) optical communications bench on port side (POB). The Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT) research and development (R&D) prototype is designed to be a generalized system that can be quickly field-reconfigured to support a wide variety of laser communications missions past, present, and future.

Conference Presentation

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Patrick L. Thompson, Armen Caroglanian, Jeffrey A. Guzek, Stephen A Hall, Robert E. Lafon, Kristoffer C. Olsen, Daniel A. Paulson, Haleh Safavi, Predrag Sekulic, Oscar Ta, and Mark E. Wilson "NASA’s LCOT (low-cost optical terminal) FSOS (free-space optical subsystem): concept, design, build, and test", Proc. SPIE 12413, Free-Space Laser Communications XXXV, 124130X (15 March 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2653355

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