Optical payload for lasercomm science (OPALS) link validation during operations from the ISS

Biswas, Abhijit; Oaida, Bogdan; Kovalik, J.; Abrahamson, Matthew J.; Wright, Malcolm W.

doi:10.1117/12.2084964

Cited by 21 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The downlink trials employed the collimated beam from OICETS at 847 nm signal wavelength, performed in 2006 [16] and 2009. For 1550 nm more divergent beams from the OPALS terminal on the ISS and SOTA onboard SOCRATES [12], [13], [14], [15] were used. Modell and measurements coincide down to 10° elevation, below the scintillation saturation leads to discrepancies with intensity scintillation, but PSI modelling still fits well.…”

Section: Psi Modell Compared To Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scintillation loss in optical low earth orbit data downlinks with avalanche photodiode receivers

Giggenbach

Moll

2017

2017 IEEE International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS)

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Future Earth Observation satellite data downlinks via directed laser beams are a promising technique to overcome the data repatriation bottleneck in high resolution sensor missions. A challenge for this technology are received power scintillations induced by atmospheric index-of-refraction turbulence (IRT). The strength of these signal variations depends on the IRT height profile, receiver aperture size, wavelength, and link elevation. We analyze measured optical satellite downlink power vectors to verify a model for the dynamic power scintillation loss. Due to their increased sensitivity compared with PIN-receivers, Avalanche Photo Diodes (APD) are usually used within data receivers on ground. This allows bulk receivers to avoid the demanding coupling onto single-mode detectors. As their sensitivity run is defined by the influence of thermal-, and signal-dependent shot-noise, a new formulation for this dependency is evaluated, and the according modified scintillation loss is quantified. This allows appropriate dimensioning of link budgets and the necessary error control mechanisms to enable reliable high-speed data transfer from low earth orbit satellites to the ground.

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Section: Psi Modell Compared To Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scintillation loss in optical low earth orbit data downlinks with avalanche photodiode receivers

Giggenbach

Moll

2017

2017 IEEE International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS)

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“…The first successful experiment was conducted in June 2014 to a ground station located in Wrightwood, California, USA. Measurements of several experiments for validation of up-and downlink were also presented [14]. Afterwards, OPALS was also used for international experiments with partners at DLR, ESA and CNES.…”

Section: Space Source 1: Opalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

LEO-ground scintillation measurements with the optical ground station Oberpfaffenhofen and SOTA/OPALS space terminals

et al. 2016

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The optical satellite-ground channel is turbulent and causes scintillation of the power received by a ground based telescope. Measurements are important to quantify the effect and evaluate common theory. A telescope with 40 cm primary mirror is used to measure the signals from the OPALS terminal on the International Space Station and the SOTA terminal on the SOCRATES satellite. The measurement instrument is a pupil camera from which images are recorded and intensity scintillation index, power scintillation index, probability density function of intensity and intensity correlation width are derived. A preliminary analysis of measurements from three satellite passed is performed, presented and discussed. The intensity scintillation index ranges from ~0.25 to ~0.03 within elevations of 26 to 66 deg. Power scintillation index varies from ~0.08 to ~0.006 and correlation width of intensity between ~11 and ~3 cm. The measurements can be used to estimate the fluctuation dynamics to be expected for a future operational ground receiver. The measurements are compared to model calculations based on the HV 5/7 -profile. Good agreement is observed to some part in the intensity scintillation index. Agreement is less for the power scintillation index and intensity correlation width. The reason seems to be a reduction of aperture averaging in some sections of the measurements due to increased speckle size. Finally, topics for future work are identified to improve the measurement analysis and deeper investigate the origin of the observed behavior.

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“…Optical satellite downlinks have been demonstrated in a number of experimental campaigns, as e.g. with JAXA's KIRARI-and NICT's SOTA-satellites [1][2][3][4], with NASA-JPL's OPALS payload [5], or in the Aerospace Cooperation's OCSD-program [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

OSIRISv1 on Flying Laptop: Measurement Results and Outlook

Fuchs

Moll

Giggenbach

et al. 2019

2019 IEEE International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS)

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Optical satellite links have gained increasing attention throughout the last years. Especially for the application of optical satellite downlinks, DLR's Institute of Communications and Navigation is developing a number of experimental payloads for various satellites. Within the OSIRIS program, DLR develops optical terminals and systems which are optimized for small satellites. This paper will show measurements conducted with DLR's OSIRISv1-payload hosted on University of Stuttgart's Flying Laptop satellite. Furthermore, a summary of the OSIRIS program's current status will be given as well.

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Optical payload for lasercomm science (OPALS) link validation during operations from the ISS

Cited by 21 publications

References 2 publications

Scintillation loss in optical low earth orbit data downlinks with avalanche photodiode receivers

Scintillation loss in optical low earth orbit data downlinks with avalanche photodiode receivers

LEO-ground scintillation measurements with the optical ground station Oberpfaffenhofen and SOTA/OPALS space terminals

OSIRISv1 on Flying Laptop: Measurement Results and Outlook

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