Optical communication in space provides essential advantage compared to RF – especially high data rates, low power demand, low probability of interception and it is free in terms of frequency regulation. TESAT is the leading supplier for different kinds of Laser Communication Terminals (LCTs). Fields of application include inter-satellite-links (ISLs) as well as satellite-to-ground-links (SGLs). TESAT LCTs interconnect LEO constellations, GEO data relays and optical ground stations. TESAT provides support to spacecraft operators in performing maintenance and trend analysis for performance optimization and risk mitigation. This includes LCTs on ESA Sentinel satellites in the LEO orbit as well as LCT/RF payloads on Airbus data relays in GEO orbit. Since 2013, the AlphaSat satellite carries the Technology Demonstration Payload 1 (TDP1) in GEO. TDP1 consists of an LCT and an RF payload. Within the TDP1 program the German Aerospace Center (DLR) contracted TESAT to demonstrate, assess and push the potential of optical communication. TDP1 and the optical ground station T-AOGS are operated by TESAT personnel. This offers the unique opportunity to do research regarding both ISLs and SGLs. TDP1 with its high data rate telemetry option further serves as investigation platform in case of anomalies, for newly added features, specific experiments and for verification support of other LCTs without interrupting their service. Since the first missions launched in 2007/2008, the LCT fleet performed more than 65.000 successful optical communication links. TESAT collected and analyzed a huge amount of telemetry data since then. We will introduce our monitoring approach and exemplarily present a set of data including findings and mitigation options.
In-Flight Monitoring of Laser Communication Terminals
2021
6 pages
Miscellaneous
Electronic Resource
English
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