The Aerospace Corporation has developed a testbed for studying pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems for
lasercom terminals. The testbed consists of two configurable terminals that are currently set up to represent a GEO-to-
GEO link. Each terminal has the ability to point open-loop, execute scan patterns, and track a received beam. The system
operates in small-beam space and consists of a far-field space simulator and two lasercom terminals operating at 473 nm
and 633 nm with representative hardware (fast steering mirrors, optical detectors, etc.). This paper discusses the software
developed for the testbed and the characterization of its performance, which includes open-loop pointing accuracy and
residual tracking error in the presence of applied disturbances. Analytical predictions are compared to experimental
results. Each terminal has the ability to progress from acquisition to tracking mode and the two terminals together
demonstrate the cooperative acquisition process.
A lasercom pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) testbed has been developed at The Aerospace Corporation. The current setup represents a GEO-to-GEO link, but depending on the target PAT subsystem, this testbed can be reconfigured. No communication aspects are currently implemented. The system operates in small beam space and consists of a far field space simulator, and two identical lasercom terminals implemented with representative hardware (fast steering mirrors, optical detectors, etc.) and differentiated only by two laser sources operating at visible wavelengths of 473 nm and 633 nm. In this paper, the design process will be examined, and aspects of the pointing accuracy will be discussed.
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