The Field of Optical Communications - Revision history

Smaldonado: /* OCSD-2 (A/B) */ Removed reference to sat to sat communications

2016-05-03T03:06:54Z

OCSD-2 (A/B): Removed reference to sat to sat communications

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:06, 3 May 2016
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	====OCSD-2 (A/B)====		====OCSD-2 (A/B)====

	OCSD-2 is scheduled for launch during 2016 aboard a currently unidentified Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg AFB. The first such launch is currently scheduled for July. OCSD-2 contains the remaining two of the three planned satellites, which will launch as a single 3U unit and separate into 2 independent satellites. The OCSD-2 A and B payloads will attempt satellite-earth ~~and satellite-satellite~~ communications at speeds in excess of 500 Mbit/s, with the primary purpose of demonstrating technologies for satellites operating in proximity to each other. It is unclear what systems will differ between the OCSD-1 and OCSD-2 payloads.		OCSD-2 is scheduled for launch during 2016 aboard a currently unidentified Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg AFB. The first such launch is currently scheduled for July. OCSD-2 contains the remaining two of the three planned satellites, which will launch as a single 3U unit and separate into 2 independent satellites. The OCSD-2 A and B payloads will attempt satellite-earth communications at speeds in excess of 500 Mbit/s, with the primary purpose of demonstrating technologies for satellites operating in proximity to each other. It is unclear what systems will differ between the OCSD-1 and OCSD-2 payloads.

	===Space Optical Communications Using Laser Beam Amplification (SOCLBA)===		===Space Optical Communications Using Laser Beam Amplification (SOCLBA)===

Ehillstrom: Added header

2016-04-05T03:59:26Z

Added header

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:59, 5 April 2016
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			What follows is a high level overview of notable milestones in the development of space-based optical communications.
	~~{{satellites~~-~~stub}}~~

	== MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE ==		== MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE ==

JHillard3.14: /* Open-Loop Optical Lock On */

2016-03-29T23:36:42Z

Open-Loop Optical Lock On

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:36, 29 March 2016
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	==== Open-Loop Optical Lock On ====		==== Open-Loop Optical Lock On ====
	After lock on had become routine, LADEE was loaded with predefined instructions to turn on the LLST system. Then when LADEE next came into view, without any RF communication, the LLST system was activated and locked on to the ground.The entire ~~windows~~ was then operated entirely upon optical commands, and RF was never used.		After lock on had become routine, LADEE was loaded with predefined instructions to turn on the LLST system. Then when LADEE next came into view, without any RF communication, the LLST system was activated and locked on to the ground.The entire transmission window was then operated entirely upon optical commands, and RF was never used.

	=== The Ground and Space terminals (LLGT and LLST) ===		=== The Ground and Space terminals (LLGT and LLST) ===

Smaldonado: Set up to transclude JPL 1U Optical Communications Terminal

2016-03-29T12:11:13Z

Set up to transclude JPL 1U Optical Communications Terminal

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:11, 29 March 2016
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	==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==		==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==
			{{:JPL 1U Optical Communications Terminal}}

	==NASA Small Satellites Technology Project==		==NASA Small Satellites Technology Project==

JHillard3.14: /* MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE */

2016-03-23T01:32:54Z

MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:32, 23 March 2016
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	==== LLGT ====		==== LLGT ====
	The LLGT contained four 15cm 10W transmit telescopes and four 40cm Downlink telescopes. Its downlink telescopes were linked by fiber to an array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. All eight of these telescopes were then contained within an environmentally controlled enclosure. The entire LLGT device was transportable, and was thoroughly tested near MIT Lincoln Labs before being transported to White Sands where it stayed for the tests.		The LLGT contained four 15cm 10W transmit telescopes and four 40cm Downlink telescopes. Its downlink telescopes were linked by fiber to an array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. All eight of these telescopes were then contained within an environmentally controlled enclosure. The entire LLGT device was transportable, and was thoroughly tested near MIT Lincoln Labs before being transported to White Sands where it stayed for the tests.


	==== LLOT ====		==== LLOT ====
			The LLOT is a 60W transmitter with six uplink apertures. The downlink receiver utilizes a super conducting nanowire photon counting array and exhibits 78Mbits downlink with tracking and uplink acquisition abilities.

	==== LLOGS ====		==== LLOGS ====
			Based upon the earlier OGS, the LLOGS was LLCD's third backup solution. Created with a 1 meter downlink telescope, with 3 outrigger telescopes for uplinking and acquisition, this 60W transmitter and receiver is most similar to SSI's optical communications modules. It uses hardware post processing to downlink at 39Mbs, and a photo-multiplier tube array as its primary sensor.

	==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==		==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==

JHillard3.14: /* The Ground and Space terminals (LLGT and LLST) */

2016-03-22T20:25:17Z

The Ground and Space terminals (LLGT and LLST)

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:25, 22 March 2016
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	The ground stations for the LLCD project consisted of the primary Lunar Lasercom Ground Terminal (LLGT), and the two backup terminals, the Lunar Lasercom OCTL Terminal (LLOT) and the Lunar Lasercom Optical Ground System (LLOGS).		The ground stations for the LLCD project consisted of the primary Lunar Lasercom Ground Terminal (LLGT), and the two backup terminals, the Lunar Lasercom OCTL Terminal (LLOT) and the Lunar Lasercom Optical Ground System (LLOGS).

			==== LLGT ====
	The LLGT contained four 15cm 10W transmit telescopes and four 40cm Downlink telescopes. Its downlink telescopes were linked by fiber to an array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. All eight of these telescopes were then contained within an environmentally controlled enclosure. The entire LLGT device was transportable, and was thoroughly tested near MIT Lincoln Labs before being transported to White Sands where it stayed for the tests.		The LLGT contained four 15cm 10W transmit telescopes and four 40cm Downlink telescopes. Its downlink telescopes were linked by fiber to an array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. All eight of these telescopes were then contained within an environmentally controlled enclosure. The entire LLGT device was transportable, and was thoroughly tested near MIT Lincoln Labs before being transported to White Sands where it stayed for the tests.


			==== LLOT ====

			==== LLOGS ====

	==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==		==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==

JHillard3.14: /* Webcam Livestream */

2016-03-22T20:17:56Z

Webcam Livestream

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 22 March 2016
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	==== Webcam Livestream ====		==== Webcam Livestream ====
	An HD webcam was setup in the operations center and broadcast its information up and around the moon before coming back. Viewers would see their movements about seven seconds delayed on the big screen. "Needless to say, this was a very popular feature of the demonstration."		An HD webcam was setup in the operations center and broadcast its information up and around the moon before coming back. Viewers would see their movements about seven seconds delayed on the big screen. "Needless to say, this was a very popular feature of the demonstration" [http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=1841892].

	==== Ground Station Handover ====		==== Ground Station Handover ====

JHillard3.14: /* MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE */

2016-03-22T20:15:00Z

MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:15, 22 March 2016
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	All systems operated at or above expected levels, and it was demonstrated that an optical link could be established without human-in-the-loop interaction. Several demonstrations of the system were executed, and are described below.		All systems operated at or above expected levels, and it was demonstrated that an optical link could be established without human-in-the-loop interaction. Several demonstrations of the system were executed, and are described below.
			[[File:LADEE w flare - cropped.jpg \|475px\|right]]

	==== High Speed Telemetry ====		==== High Speed Telemetry ====
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	==== Ground Station Handover ====		==== Ground Station Handover ====
			During testing with the LLGT, cloud cover became stronger than anticipated. With very little time delay, the link was turned off, locked onto the LLOT (one of the back-up stations), and then reactivated perfectly. This was the first demonstration of a control "Handover" and showed the systems robustness.

	==== Open-Loop Optical Lock On ====		==== Open-Loop Optical Lock On ====
			After lock on had become routine, LADEE was loaded with predefined instructions to turn on the LLST system. Then when LADEE next came into view, without any RF communication, the LLST system was activated and locked on to the ground.The entire windows was then operated entirely upon optical commands, and RF was never used.

	=== The Ground and Space terminals (LLGT and LLST) ===		=== The Ground and Space terminals (LLGT and LLST) ===

JHillard3.14: /* MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE */

2016-03-22T19:59:36Z

MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:59, 22 March 2016
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	== MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE ==		== MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE ==
	Nasa's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) was a rousing success that demonstrated duplex laser communications at previously unheard-of speeds between lunar orbit and ground stations on Earth (These download speeds were at times faster than the ground lines on Earth when distributing downloaded scientific data). The LLCD's space component was attached as an optical payload to the larger scientific satellite LADEE.		Nasa's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) was a rousing success that demonstrated duplex laser communications at previously unheard-of speeds between lunar orbit and ground stations on Earth (These download speeds were at times faster than the ground lines on Earth when distributing downloaded scientific data). The LLCD's space component was attached as an optical payload to the larger scientific satellite LADEE.

	The LLCD project operated on the 1.5-micron band with maximum downlink speeds of 622Mbs. The project featured a 1kHz squarewave acquisition signal and could measure its round-trip Time of Flight (TOF) to within 200 psec.		The LLCD project operated on the 1.5-micron band with maximum downlink speeds of 622Mbs. The project featured a 1kHz squarewave acquisition signal and could measure its round-trip Time of Flight (TOF) to within 200 psec.

	~~=== Mission Success and Demonstrations ===~~		All systems operated at or above expected levels, and it was demonstrated that an optical link could be established without human-in-the-loop interaction. Several demonstrations of the system were executed, and are described below.
	~~The LLCD experiment is regarded as a great success.~~ All systems operated at or above expected levels, and it was demonstrated that an optical link could be established without human-in-the-loop interaction.

	==== High Speed Telemetry ====		==== High Speed Telemetry ====
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	==== High Volume Download ====		==== High Volume Download ====
	During one experiment, test data from another LADEE experiment was transmitted via the optical link. The 1GB of data was transmitted in under five minutes (error -free). The same amount of data would have consumed every RF window for three days to transmit.		During one experiment, test data from another LADEE experiment was transmitted via the optical link. The 1GB of data was transmitted in under five minutes (error-free). The same amount of data would have consumed every RF window for three days to transmit.

	The information was then relayed to scientist on the ground using existing infrastructure that was often slower than the optical link itself. This process was executed several times at the request of LADEE scientists and gave them an unprecedented amount of data to process.		The information was then relayed to scientist on the ground using existing infrastructure that was often slower than the optical link itself. This process was executed several times at the request of LADEE scientists and gave them an unprecedented amount of data to process.

	==== Webcam Livestream ====		==== Webcam Livestream ====
			An HD webcam was setup in the operations center and broadcast its information up and around the moon before coming back. Viewers would see their movements about seven seconds delayed on the big screen. "Needless to say, this was a very popular feature of the demonstration."

	==== Ground Station Handover ====		==== Ground Station Handover ====


			==== Open-Loop Optical Lock On ====

JHillard3.14: /* MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE */

2016-03-22T19:50:10Z

MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{satellites-stub}}
-==MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE==
+== MIT Lincoln Labs LLCD/LADEE ==
-Nasa's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) was a rousing success that demonstrated duplex laser communications at previously unheard-of speeds between lunar orbit and ground stations on Earth.
+Nasa's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) was a rousing success that demonstrated duplex laser communications at previously unheard-of speeds between lunar orbit and ground stations on Earth (These download speeds were at times faster than the ground lines on Earth when distributing downloaded scientific data). The LLCD's space component was attached as an optical payload to the larger scientific satellite LADEE.
 ==JPL 1U Optical Comms Terminal==