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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Deep-Space Optical Communications: Visions, Trends, and Prospects

Current key initiatives in deep-space optical communications are treated in terms of historical context, contemporary trends, and prospects for the future. An architectural perspective focusing on high-level drivers, systems, and related operations concepts is provided. Detailed subsystem and component topics are not addressed. A brief overview of past ideas and architectural concepts sets the stage for current developments. Current requirements that might drive a transition from radio frequencies to optical communications are examined. These drivers include mission demand for data rates and/or data volumes; spectrum to accommodate such data rates; and desired power, mass, and cost benefits. As is typical, benefits come with associated challenges. For optical communications, these include atmospheric effects, link availability, pointing, and background light. The paper describes how NASA's Space Communication and Navigation Office will respond to the drivers, achieve the benefits, and mitigate the challenges, as documented in its Optical Communications Roadmap. Some nontraditional architectures and operations concepts are advanced in an effort to realize benefits and mitigate challenges as quickly as possible. Radio frequency communications is considered as both a competitor to and a partner with optical communications. The paper concludes with some suggestions for two affordable first steps that can yet evolve into capable architectures that will fulfill the vision inherent in optical communications.

space communication↗
NASA NTRS2021

Evaluation of asynchronous geiger-mode avalanche photodiode arrays for deep-space optical communications

The NASA Psyche mission is set to explore an asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter with a launch date in 2022. On-board the Psyche spacecraft is experimental demonstrator technology that will allow scientists to explore the capabilities of optical communications – a program called Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) led by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). DSOC seeks to improve communications performance by developing a space-based Flight Laser Transceiver (FLT) and a ground-based transceiver to enable photon-efficient communications with equipment in deep space. An integral part to this FLT system is a high-efficiency photon-counting camera (PCC) that is able to detect both the 1064nm uplink/beacon laser photons and 1550nm downlink laser photons with low background noise, and is capable of withstanding the rigors of space-travel. The paper details the characterization of several asynchronous Geiger-Mode Avalanche Photodiode (GmAPD) arrays developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory for use in the PCC- specifically evaluating the temperature dependence of background noise, photon detection efficiency at 1064nm and 1550nm wavelengths, pixel lifetime testing, and angle of acceptance measurements. The results of this characterization are used to determine the nominal conditions for the device to operate in while in flight to maintain an efficient link with the ground-based transceiver.

Duerr, E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A two-telescope receiver design for deep space optical communications

A two-telescope system for a deep space optical communication receiver is proposed. To substantially improve the overall receiver efficiency, the design reserves the large telescope for signal-detection purposes only. A small diffraction-limited telescope is introduced to accomplish the task of navigational tracking.

Shaik, K.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Discovery Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) transceiver

NASA’s 22 cm diameter Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) Transceiver is designed to provide a bi-directional optical link between a spacecraft in the inner solar system and an Earth-based optical ground station. This design, optimized for operation across a wide range of illumination conditions, is focused on minimizing blinding from stray light, and providing reliable, accurate attitude information to point its narrow communication beam accurately to the future location of the ground terminal. Though our transceiver will transmit in the 1550 nm waveband and receive in the 1064 nm waveband, the system design relies heavily on reflective optical elements, extending flexibility to be modified for use at different wavebands. The design makes use of common path propagation among transmit, receive and pointing verification optical channels to maintain precise alignment among its components, and to naturally correct for element misalignment resulting from launch or thermal element perturbations. This paper presents the results of trade studies showing the evolution of the design, unique operational characteristics of the design, elements that help to maintain minimal stray light contamination, and preliminary results from development and initial testing of a functional aluminum test model.

Roberts, W. Thomas↗
NASA NTRS2003

Optical ground station site diversity for Deep Space Optical Communications the Mars Telecom Orbiter optical link

Future NASA deep space missions will fly advanced high resolution imaging instruments that will require high bandwidth links to return the huge data volumes generated by these instruments. Optical communications is a key technology for returning these large data volumes from deep space probes. Yet to cost effectively realize the high bandwidth potential of the optical link will require deployment of ground receivers in diverse locations to provide high link availability. A recent analysis of GOES weather satellite data showed that a network of ground stations located in Hawaii and the Southwest continental US can provide an average of 90% availability for the deep space optical link. JPL and AFRL are exploring the use of large telescopes in Hawaii, California, and Albuquerque to support the Mars Telesat laser communications demonstration. Designed to demonstrate multi-Mbps communications from Mars, the mission will investigate key operational strategies of future deep space optical communications network.

laser communications↗
NASA NTRS1990

Deep space optical communications - A program update

Technological developments leading toward the use of optical communications on deep-space missions are reviewed. Developments in the characterization of atmospheric visibility and the development of advanced composite materials for use in optical communications systems are discussed. System demonstrations involving the Galileo Optical Experiment and a very lightweight optical communications package intended for the Cassini mission to Saturn are addressed. Proposed flight experiments and a deep-space optical communication long-range plan are discussed.

Lesh, James R.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Toward a NASA Deep Space Optical Communications System

As discussed at SpaceOps in 2016, we expect the data rates from deep space missions to increase approximately one order of magnitude per decade for the next 50 years. The first order of magnitude improvement will come from existing plans for radio frequency (RF) communications including enhancements to both spacecraft and Deep Space Network (DSN) facilities. The next two orders of magnitude are predicted to come from the introduction of deep space optical communications. Studies indicate that optical receive apertures of between 8m12m are desired. The large cost of dedicated receive telescopes makes this method unrealistic – at least in the near-term. The cost of large optical ground terminals is driven primarily by the cost of the optics and by the cost of a stable structure for the telescope. We propose a novel hybrid design in which existing DSN 34m beam waveguide (BWG) radio antennas can be modified to include an 8m equivalent optical primary. By utilizing a low-cost segmented spherical mirror optical design, pioneered by the optical astronomical community, and by exploiting the already existing extremely stable large radio aperture structures in the DSN, we can minimize both of these cost drivers for implementing large optical communications ground terminals. Two collocated hybrid RF/optical antennas could be arrayed to synthesize the performance of an 11.3m receive aperture to support more capable or more distant space missions or used separately to communicate with two optical spacecraft simultaneously. NASA is in the midst of building six new 34m BWG antennas in the DSN. The final two are planned to be built at the DSN Goldstone, California and Canberra complexes. We are now investigating building these last two antennas as RF/optical hybrids. By delaying their operational dates by two years, we would be able to add the 8m optical receive capability for these two antennas while fitting within existing budgetary constraints. This paper describes the hybrid antenna design, the technical challenges being addressed, and plan for using this concept, together with ongoing work on optical flight terminals, to infuse operation optical communications into deep space missions.

Cornwell, Donald M.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Investigation Of Prandtl-Ishlinskii Hysteresis Compensation for Deep Space Optical Communications Pointing Control

This paper studies the simulated performance of the Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) laser downlink pointing control system that has a pointing requirement at the sub-microradian scale. To achieve the required pointing precision, the DSOC Flight Laser Transceiver (FLT) point-ahead mirror (PAM) employs piezoelectric actuators, which are widely used in precision applications due to their high motion resolution, rapid response, and high output forces. However, a piezoelectric actuator's performance is often limited by nonlinearities in their response, most significantly hysteresis. To study the effect of hysteresis on our simulated pointing performance, an invertible hysteresis model is developed using the Classical Prantdl-Ishlinskii (CPI) method. The simulation includes models of DSOC hardware and electronic system components based on key parameters (bias, frequency response, noise), with the hysteresis modeled in the PAM piezo actuator dynamics. A Proportional-Integral controller provides feedback with measurements from two potential sources: strain gauge sensors or a photon-counting camera. To compensate for hysteresis behavior, a feedforward inverse CPI hysteresis model is implemented in the control system. Two CPI models are built using different sampling methods (uniform sampling and cosine spacing) and controller performance is compared. For the maximum command range of ±400 μrad at 1 mHz, results show that the feedforward combined with feedback control reduces output tracking error by 50% or 58% (to 0.20 or 0.38 μrad) compared to feedback control alone (from 0.40 or 0.90 μrad), corresponding to the uniform-sampled and cosine-sampled CPI models, respectively.

Marinello, Lindsey A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Estimation and tracking for deep-space optical communications

The importance of pointing and tracking is demonstrated with current deep-space optical communications system concepts. Maximum-likelihood (ML), minimum square counting-error (MSCE), and maximum product (MP) estimation algorithms (or decision rules) are derived to estimate the location of the receiving station to subpixel resolution. Comparisons of the above algorithms are made, via Monte Carlo computer simulation, in terms of estimator's bias and variance. Optical communication link analyses are made for a typical earth-Mars scenario, to gain engineering insights. It is observed that both the ML rule and the MSCE rule perform better than the MP rule.

Win, Moe Zaw↗
NASA NTRS1994

Economical 10-Meter-Class Ground-Based Receiver for Deep-Space Optical Communications

Modifications to an existing radiofrequency telescope are described which would enable it to operate as an R&D optical receiver terminal for deep-space communications. The low overall cost of the telescope is due to the unique process of fabricating the 10.4 meter primary mirror and its support structure, the lightweight of the primary (10-11 kg/m 2 ), and the requirement that the telescope act only as a photon bucket, which lowers the cost of optically figuring and polishing the mirror. The entrie optical ground terminal facility is estimated to cost approximately $10M to construct.

deep-space↗
NASA NTRS2022

Deep-space Optical Communications Pointing Control Design

This paper provides an overview of pointing control design for NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system. DSOC is NASA’s first deep-space laser communications system and includes both a ground system and a space terminal. This paper focus on the pointing control system design and related issues for the Flight Laser Transceiver (FLT), including its key subsystems and components that support the space terminal pointing and control, its operational concept and sequence design, and its control systems design and related analyses. The paper also provides an overview of the achievable system pointing performance that meets the DSOC pointing control design requirements.

Zhu, David↗
NASA NTRS2004

Architectural Options for a Future Deep Space Optical Communications Network

This paper provides an overview of different options at Earth to provide Deep Space optical communication services. It is based mainly on work done for the Mars Laser Communications Demonstration (MLCD) Project, a joint project between NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (JPL), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL). It also reports preliminary conclusions from the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System Continuation Study at GSFC. A lasercom flight terminal will be flown on the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO) to be launched by NASA in 2009, and will be the first high rate deep space demonstration of this revolutionary technology.

Edwards, B. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A note on deep space optical communication link parameters

Topical communication in the context of a deep space communication link. Communication link analysis at the optical frequencies differs significantly from that at microwave frequencies such as the traditional S and X-bands used in deep space applications, due to the different technology of transmitter, antenna, modulators, and receivers. In addition, the important role of quantum noise in limiting system performance is quite different than that of thermal noise. The optical link design is put in a design control table format similar to a microwave telecom link design. Key considerations unique to the optical link are discussed.

Dolinar, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Qualification and Performance of a High-Efficiency Laser Transmitter for Deep-Space Optical Communications

A high-power Laser Transmitter Assembly (LTA) was developed to support the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology demonstration being developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA’s Psyche Mission plans to host the DSOC flight subsystem for testing space-to-ground high-bandwidth laser communications en route to the 16 Psyche asteroid. We review the design, performance, and qualification of the LTA Engineering Model and Flight Model (EM and FM) delivered to JPL. The LTA uses a master-oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) design and delivers up to 4.5 W at 1550 nm, with a highly efficient, cladding-pumped, polarization-maintaining erbium-ytterbium fiber amplifier. The master oscillator generates a range of pulse widths and repetition rates to support modulation formats from 16- to 128-PPM for optical data transmission at >100 Mbps. The LTA was designed for high reliability and radiation hardness, and includes redundant signal and pumping paths to reduce single points of failure, hardware interlocks to ensure safe operation and protection against damage, closed-loop control of optical power, and detailed health and status via telemetry. The LTA EM and FM were subjected to unit-appropriate space qualification testing. We describe the performance testing of the EM and FM, for the characterization of key metrics such as wavelength stability, signal linewidth, optical pulse width, jitter, and extinction ratio, and polarization extinction ratio. The management of optical nonlinearities (self-phase modulation, Brillouin scattering, or pulse-to-pulse energy variation), which could result in an optical link penalty or damage to the LTA, is also detailed, and factors affecting the power efficiency are discussed.

Jaques, J.↗
NASA NTRS2008

An ATP System for Deep-Space Optical Communication

An acquisition, tracking, and pointing (ATP) system is proposed for aiming an optical-communications downlink laser beam from deep space. In providing for a direction reference, the concept exploits the mature technology of star trackers to eliminate the need for a costly and potentially hazardous laser beacon. The system would include one optical and two inertial sensors, each contributing primarily to a different portion of the frequency spectrum of the pointing signal: a star tracker (<10 Hz), a gyroscope (<50 Hz), and a precise fluid-rotor inertial angular-displacement sensor (sometimes called, simply, "angle sensor") for the frequency range >50 Hz. The outputs of these sensors would be combined in an iterative averaging process to obtain high-bandwidth, high-accuracy pointing knowledge. The accuracy of pointing knowledge obtainable by use of the system was estimated on the basis of an 8-cm-diameter telescope and known parameters of commercially available star trackers and inertial sensors: The single-axis pointing-knowledge error was found to be characterized by a standard deviation of 150 nanoradians - below the maximum value (between 200 and 300 nanoradians) likely to be tolerable in deep-space optical communications.

Lee, Shinhak↗
NASA NTRS2016

Navigation Using Deep-Space Optical Communication Systems

This work investigates the deep-space spacecraft navigation performance achievable from tracking data types obtained using optical communication systems. These optical navigation types include ranging between spacecraft and a station on Earth and astrometric measurements of angular position. Two mission scenarios are analyzed: an interplanetary cruise trajectory for a Mars lander (Mars 2020), and a science orbit for a Mars orbiter (MAVEN). Various data types are simulated using comprehensive measurement models, tracking schedules, and geometrical constraints. Sensitivity analyses are performed to assess the effect of various contributors to measurement accuracy and navigation performance. For both of the mission scenarios studied, the optical navigation types yield equivalent or improved performance as compared to traditional radiometric observables, though radiometric data types slightly outperform optical observables during tracking data gaps in the science orbit scenario.

McCandless, Sarah Elizabeth↗
NASA NTRS1981

Deep space optical communication via relay satellite

The application of optical communications for a deep space link via an earth-orbiting relay satellite is discussed. The system uses optical frequencies for the free-space channel and RF links for atmospheric transmission. The relay satellite is in geostationary orbit and contains the optics necessary for data processing and formatting. It returns the data to earth through the RF terrestrial link and also transmits an optical beacon to the satellite for spacecraft return pointing and for the alignment of the transmitting optics. Future work will turn to modulation and coding, pointing and tracking, and optical-RF interfacing.

Dolinar, S.↗