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NASA NTRS · 20230011585

Update on Tbird on-Orbit Experiments and Performance Results

Curt Schieler·Kathleen Michelle Riesing·Bryan C. Bilyeu·Jessica Shinmay Chang·Ajay Garg·Andrew Horvath·Bryan Robinson·Jade Wang·Sabino Piazzolla·Beth Ann Keer
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Abstract

The TeraByte Infrared Delivery (TBIRD) mission has successfully demonstrated 200-Gbps laser communication downlinks from a 6U CubeSat in low-Earth orbit (LEO), delivering up to 4.8 terabytes (TB) error-free in a 5-minute pass. In total 65 passes were performed from May 2022 through May 2023. This paper presents an overview of the results of two experimental campaigns during that year of operations.

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Curt Schieler, Kathleen Michelle Riesing, Bryan C. Bilyeu, Jessica Shinmay Chang, Ajay Garg, Andrew Horvath, Bryan Robinson, Jade Wang, Sabino Piazzolla, Beth Ann Keer. Update on Tbird on-Orbit Experiments and Performance Results. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230011585

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On-Orbit Results of Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking for the TBIRD Cubesat Mission

Since launch in May 2022, the TeraByte Infrared Delivery (TBIRD) payload on a 6U CubeSat has successfully demonstrated 100/200 Gbps laser communications and has transferred >1 TB in a pass from low Earth orbit to ground. To support the narrow downlink beam needed for high rate communications, the payload provides pointing feedback to the host spacecraft to precisely track the ground station throughout the 5-minute pass. This paper presents the on-orbit results of the pointing and tracking system for TBIRD, including initial acquisition and closed-loop tracking performance of 20–35 µrad RMS per axis. Results from on-orbit characterization of the transmit beam are also presented. Measurements of Tx/Rx alignment show stability within 20 µrad, ensuring that tracking on the uplink accurately points the downlink.

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