Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Sandusky, J..
The opto-electronic receiver (detector and pre-amplifier) necessary to meet the demands of high capacity deep space missions is designed for a Mars-Earth optical communication link.
This instrument would enable both real-time data delivery and increased data volume for payloads using the Space Shuttle.
Motivated by demands for faster, better, cheaper spacecraft, NASA is developing deep-space optical communication technology which promises reduced mass, volume, and power consumption compared to radiofrequency technology.
A high data rate laser transmitter assembly (LTA) has been designed as the source for an optical free-space communication link between the International Space Station and the 1-meter Optical Communications Telescope Laboratory (OCTL) to be built at the Table Mountain Facility (TMF, Wrightwood, CA).
This paper presents an overview of the preliminary design of both the flight and ground systems of the Optical Communication Demonstration and High-Rate Link Facility which will demonstrate optical communication from the International Space Station to ground after its deployment in October 2002.
With the impetus towards high data rate communications in inter-satellite and space-to-ground links, the small size, low-mass, and low-power consumption of optical communications is seen as a viable alternative to radio frequency links.
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The Optical Communications Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will deploy an optical communications transmitter demonstration and facility to the International Space Station in January 2002.