Deep space optical communications technology demonstration pre-launch validation and performance tests with the laser test evaluation station (LTES)

Abstract

The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) project launched in October 2023 hosted by the Psyche spacecraft. The DSOC flight laser terminal will be periodically closing links starting a few weeks after launch and extending out to Mars ranges. The DSOC engineering model (EM) flight laser transceiver terminal was built to serve as a replica of the flight terminal in space to be integrated into an EM testbed at JPL. The EM testbed characterized the EM flight laser transceiver terminal under test conditions emulating deep space. These tests helped to understand acquisition, tracking, pointing and the bi-directional communications performance. The EM testbed includes a gravity offload structure and the Laser Test Evaluation Station (LTES) testbed that emulates the ground transmitter and receiver. The LTES testbed was developed at NASA/JPL to serve as a pseudo transmitter and receiver ground station for deep-space flight terminals. This paper will describe the EM testbed capabilities that provide calibrated uplink irradiances overfilling the 22 cm aperture, provides a zero-gravity environment, and characterizes the downlink beam. Atmospheric fading and additive background noise can be injected, while performing uplink/downlink communications characterization. The gravity offload is capable of injecting a disturbance spectrum with a hexapod system allowing for a range of spacecraft environments to be emulated. The LTES architecture can be expanded to allow for multiple flight terminals to be tested in parallel for future projects. Key DSOC validation and performance tests with the EM testbed are reported in this paper.