Design options for an optical multiple-access data relay terminal

Paul V. Gatenby; Michael A. Grant; Christopher I. Beard; Guy C. Baister

doi:10.1117/12.59266

9 June 1992 Design options for an optical multiple-access data relay terminal

Paul V. Gatenby, Michael A. Grant, Christopher I. Beard, Guy C. Baister

Proceedings Volume 1635, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies IV; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.59266
Event: OE/LASE '92, 1992, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

An unprecedented number of Earth observation and communications spacecraft will be flown in the next decade making much greater demands on the space communication infrastructure. Optical multiple access intersatellite link transceivers capable of maintaining simultaneous communication with a number of low Earth orbiting spacecraft will be an important element. The BAe Optical Multiple Access (OMA) system is based on a lightweight user terminal which offers a similar service to S-band systems but with considerably lower mass, power consumption, volume and real estate. This paper discusses design options for the data relay terminal mounted on the GEO platform. Configurations for 2-access and 8-access transceivers are presented. This includes discussion of terminal configuration options, layout of the optical components to minimize real estate, provision of the beacon source and beacon scanning unit, acquisition times, and measures to ensure that interference between channels is minimized. Mass and power budgets are presented for 2-access and 8-access transceivers and compared with equivalent S-band systems.

Citation Download Citation

Paul V. Gatenby, Michael A. Grant, Christopher I. Beard, and Guy C. Baister "Design options for an optical multiple-access data relay terminal", Proc. SPIE 1635, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies IV, (9 June 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.59266

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