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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS2019

CubeSat Laser Infrared CrosslinK (CLICK): A Demonstration of Flexible High-Data-Rate, Low-Cost, Full-Duplex CubeSat Optical Communications and Ranging Capability

The CubeSat Laser Infrared CrosslinK (CLICK) mission will demonstrate technology to advance the state of the art in communications between small spacecraft as well as the capability to gauge their relative distance and location. CLICK is comprised of two sequential missions. The goal of CLICK B/C (i.e. CLICK B and CLICK C), the second mission shown in this animation, is to demonstrate full-duplex (send and receive) optical communication crosslink between two 3U (3-Unit CubeSats) small spacecraft, in low-Earth-orbit, at distances between 15 and 360 miles (25 to 580 kilometers) apart at data rates greater than 20 megabits per second. This second mission will also demonstrate precision ranging capability between the spacecraft that provides the ability to measure the distance and location of each with a range resolution to within approximately 20 inches (0.5 meters).

Mayer, David J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) Status

This paper will provide the status of the NASA Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program’s Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) series. Details on the development, launch, and operations of the recently completed PTD-1, as well as the planned operations of the upcoming PTD-3 and PTD-4 flights will be presented. Significant advances in the capabilities of nano-spacecraft over the past 15 years, coupled with improved access to space for CubeSats, have created new opportunities for scientific exploration using these high-value platforms. Continued development and demonstration of key technologies are improving the performance of the 1-unit (U) and 3U class CubeSats while expanding the reach of nano-spacecraft technologies into larger platforms, such as the 12-kilogram class “6U” buses. NASA’s PTD series is demonstrating a variety of new technologies on-orbit, providing proof of the maturity of these significant new technologies, and enhancing the performance of future CubeSats. Each of the four PTD flights consists of one 6U CubeSat weighing approximately 12 kilograms and measuring approximately 36 centimeters x 25 centimeters x 10 centimeters. Each flight is planned to characterize its payload within 90 days of insertion into low-Earth orbit. The PTD flights will demonstrate key technologies such as novel nano-spacecraft compatible propulsion systems, which enable deep space and maneuverable CubeSat flights; optical communications systems to facilitate high data rate collection and communications; and highly integrated systems that combine power and communication system elements to enable high power generation and novel integrated communication systems. The first PTD spacecraft, PTD-1, was placed in orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch in January of 2021 and demonstrated the functionality of the HYDROS propulsion system, developed by Tethers Unlimited of Bothell, Washington, over a period of six months. The PTD-3 flight, scheduled for launch in summer 2022, will demonstrate the TeraByte InfraRed Delivery, or TBIRD, optical communications payload developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington. The PTD-4 flight will demonstrate the Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and anTenna, or LISA-T, a payload that consists of an integrated solar array and transceiver developed by NASA’s Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The PTD spacecraft bus, integration and test, and flight operations services are provided by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc. (“Tyvak”) of Irvine, California. NASA’s SST program within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the PTD demonstration flights. The SST program rapidly develops and demonstrates capabilities for small spacecraft applicable to exploration, science, and the commercial sector. The program is based at NASA’s Ames Research Center.

Small Spacecraft↗
NASA NTRS2009

Robust Short-Pulse, High-Peak-Power Laser Transmitter for Optical Communications

We report on a pulsed fiber based master oscillator power amplifier laser at 1550 nm to support moderate data rates with high peak powers in a compact package suitable for interplanetary optical communications. To accommodate pulse position modulation, the polarization maintaining laser transmitter generates pulses from 0.1 to 1 ns with variable duty cycle over a pulse repetition frequency range of 10 to 100 MHz.

fiber amplifier↗
NASA NTRS1999

Design of a 2.5 Gbps Optical Transmitter for the International Space Station

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).

Optical↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Envisioned Future for Space Optical Communications

Since the beginning of the Space Age, NASA has been a leader in developing space communications and navigation technologies— especially during the Apollo missions to the Moon and NASA’s initial foray into deep space. To support future exploration and science needs, NASA is gradually introducing optical communications technologies to augment its radio frequency (RF) systems. Optical communications will enable new science and exploration missions by providing high data rates and better navigation over long distances. NASA has already flown several optical communications demonstrations, including the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD), the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD), and the Terabyte Infrared Delivery (TBIRD) system. Historically, NASA has partnered with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL) to develop optical communications technology. In addition to pursuing optical communications, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program is undergoing a paradigm shift and moving away from government owned and operated networks to using commercial services whenever possible. In partnership with SCaN, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) has identified key technologies that need to be developed to support future space communications and navigation, including enhanced RF, optical, and 3rd Generation Partnership (3GPP) cellular capabilities, as well as high-speed networking. This paper briefly describes some current and upcoming optical demonstrations and provides an overview of STMD’s envisioned future for optical communications and navigation in the 2030+ timeframe.

Bernard L Edwards↗
NASA NTRS2007

Antenna Technology and other Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Activities at the Glenn Research Center in Support of NASA's Exploration Vision

NASA s Vision for Space Exploration outlines a very ambitious program for the next several decades of the Space Agency endeavors. Ahead is the completion of the International Space Station (ISS); safely flight the shuttle (STS) until 2010; develop and fly the Crew Exploration Vehicle (Orion) by no later than 2014; return to the moon by no later than 2020; extend human presence across the solar system and beyond; implement a sustainable and affordable human and robotic program; develop supporting innovative technologies, knowledge and infrastructure; and promote international and commercial participation in exploration. To achieve these goals, a series of enabling technologies must be developed or matured in a timely manner. Some of these technologies are: spacecraft RF technology (e.g., high power sources and large antennas which using surface receive arrays can get up to 1 Gbps from Mars), uplink arraying (reduce reliance on large ground-based antennas and high operation costs; single point of failure; enable greater data-rates or greater effective distance; scalable, evolvable, flexible scheduling), software define radio (i.e., reconfigurable, flexible interoperability allows for in flight updates open architecture; reduces mass, power, volume), and optical communications (high capacity communications with low mass/power required; significantly increases data rates for deep space). This presentation will discuss some of the work being performed at the NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, in antenna technology as well as other on-going RF communications efforts.

Miranda, Felix A.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Results of the STRV-2 Lasercom Terminal Evaluation Tests

The STRV-2 lasercom terminal (LCT) was designed and developed by AstroTerra Corporation of San Diego, California, under funding from the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO). Scheduled for launch in late 1998 it will be used to demonstrate, for the first time, high data rate bi-directional satellite-to-ground optical communications.

space optical communications STRV-2 lasercom testi↗
NASA NTRS2007

Optical Phased Array Antennas using Coupled Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers

High data rate communication links are needed to meet the needs of NASA as well as other organizations to develop space-based optical communication systems. These systems must be robust to high radiation environments, reliable, and operate over a wide temperature range. Highly desirable features include beam steering capability, reconfigurability, low power consumption, and small aperture size. Optical communication links, using coupled vertical cavity surface emitting laser radiating elements are promising candidates for the transmit portion of these communication links. In this talk we describe a mission scenario, and how the antenna requirements are derived from the mission needs. We describe a potential architecture for this type of antenna, and outline the advantages and drawbacks of this approach relative to competing technologies. The technology we are proposing used coupled arrays of 1550 nm vertical cavity surface emitting lasers for transmission. The feasibility of coupling these arrays together, to form coherent high-power beams that can be modulated at data rates exceeding 1 Gbps, will be explored. We will propose an architecture that enables electronic beam steering, thus mitigating the need for ancillary acquisition, tracking and beam pointing equipment such as needed for current optical communicatin systems. The beam-steering capability we are proposing also opens the possibility of using this technology for inter-satellite communicatin links, and satellite-to-surface links.

Mueller, Carl H.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Direct-detection optical communication with color coded pulse position modulation signaling

The performance characteristics of a direct-detection optical communication system which is based on a laser transmitter which produces single light pulses at selected nonoverlapping optical center frequencies are discussed. The signal format, called color coded pulse position modulation (CCPPM), uses more of the total available response bandwidth characteristics of the photodetector than does ordinary PPM signaling. The advantages of CCPPM signaling are obtained at the expense of an increased optical bandwidth of the transmitted signal and a more complicated transmitter and receiver structure. When the signal format is used in conjunction with block length Reed-Solomon codes, high data rates and reliable high-speed optical communications under conditions of optimal energy efficiency are obtained.

Davidson, F.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Overview and Status of the Laser Communication Relay Demonstration

NASA is presently developing first all optical high data rate satellite relay system, LCRD. To be flown on commercial geosynchronous satellite, it will communicate at DPSK and PPM modulation formats up to 1.244 Gbps. LCRD flight payload is being developed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The two ground stations, one on Table Mountain in CA, developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and another on Hawaiian island will enable bi-directional relay operation and ground sites diversity experiments. In this paper we will report on the current state of LCRD system development, planned operational scenarios and expected system performance.

free space optical communication↗
NASA NTRS1999

Deep Space Network Revitalization: Operations for the 21st Century

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) supports unmanned space missions through a Deep Space Network (DSN) that is developed and operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL and its subcontractors. The DSN capabilities have been incrementally upgraded since its establishment in the late '50s and are delivered from three Deep Space Communications Complexes (DSCC's) near Goldstone, California, Madrid, Spain, and Canberra, Australia. At present each DSCC includes large antennas with diameters from 11 meters to 70 meters, that operate largely in S-band and X-band frequencies. In addition each DSCC includes all the associated electronics to receive and process the low-level telemetry signals, and radiate the necessary command with high-power transmitters. To accommodate support of the rapidly increasing number of missions by NASA and other space agencies, and to facilitate maintaining and increasing the level of service in a shrinking budget environment, JPL has initiated a bold road map with three key components: 1. A Network Simplification Project (NSP) to upgrade aging electronics, replacing them with modem commercially based components. NSP and related replacement tasks are projected to reduce the cost of operating the DSN by 50% relative to the 1997 levels. 2. Upgrade of all 34-m and 70-m antennas to provision of Ka-Band telemetry downlink capability, complemented by an existing X-band uplink capability. This will increase the effective telemetry downlink capacity by a factor of 4, without building any new antennas. 3. Establishment of an optical communications network to support for high data rate unmanned missions that cannot be accommodated with radiofrequency (RF) communications, as well as establish a path toward support of manned missions at Mars. In this paper we present the mission loading projected for 1998-2008 and the elements of the JPL road map that will enable supporting it with a reduced budget. Particular emphasis will be on streamlining the architecture and to reduce the DSN cost for operations, maintenance and sustaining engineering while at the same time also simplifying and reducing the operations cost for the flight missions.

Statman, Joseph I.↗
NASA NTRS1999

High Data Rate Instrument Study

The High Data Rate Instrument Study was a joint effort between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The objectives were to assess the characteristics of future high data rate Earth observing science instruments and then to assess the feasibility of developing data processing systems and communications systems required to meet those data rates. Instruments and technology were assessed for technology readiness dates of 2000, 2003, and 2006. The highest data rate instruments are hyperspectral and synthetic aperture radar instruments which are capable of generating 3.2 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 1.3 Gbps, respectively, with a technology readiness date of 2003. These instruments would require storage of 16.2 Terebits (Tb) of information (RF communications case of two orbits of data) or 40.5 Tb of information (optical communications case of five orbits of data) with a technology readiness date of 2003. Onboard storage capability in 2003 is estimated at 4 Tb; therefore, all the data created cannot be stored without processing or compression. Of the 4 Tb of stored data, RF communications can only send about one third of the data to the ground, while optical communications is estimated at 6.4 Tb across all three technology readiness dates of 2000, 2003, and 2006 which were used in the study. The study includes analysis of the onboard processing and communications technologies at these three dates and potential systems to meet the high data rate requirements. In the 2003 case, 7.8% of the data can be stored and downlinked by RF communications while 10% of the data can be stored and downlinked with optical communications. The study conclusion is that only 1 to 10% of the data generated by high data rate instruments will be sent to the ground from now through 2006 unless revolutionary changes in spacecraft design and operations such as intelligent data extraction are developed.

Schober, Wayne↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Addressing the High-Rate Deep Space Communications Shortfall in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate's Envisioned Future

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) has identified key technologies needed for future crewed and robotic exploration and science missions. STMD is helping to build the civilian technology base by working with other NASA Mission Directorates, other United States government agencies, commercial industry, and academia to identify technology shortfalls and to develop plans to address them. One critical area of shortfalls lies with deep space communications and navigation. While NASA had huge success to date with the Deep Space Network (DSN), recent studies have shown that without enhancements to current systems, the DSN will be unable to support the anticipated increases in the pace of space exploration or the expected higher data rates from deep space needed soon without severely impacting other missions. High-rate communications from the Moon and beyond is needed to enable future exploration and science missions currently being developed or under consideration. For example, a robust communications infrastructure will be needed to support a sustained human presence on the Moon and its eventual industrialization. High data rate trunk lines between the Earth and the Moon are needed to reduce the number of individual links. The human exploration of Mars will also require high-rate communications between Earth and Mars. Return data rates to Earth from Mars for a single link, for example, are anticipated to be greater than 100 Mb/s; forward data rates to Mars, based on experience from the International Space Station, are anticipated to be greater than 20 Mb/s. Future deep space science missions will also require higher data rates than possible with today’s technology and the current capabilities of the DSN. To support future exploration and science needs, it will be necessary to upgrade the DSN to enhance its radio frequency (RF) capabilities. In addition, it is envisioned that NASA will gradually introduce optical communications to augment its RF systems. Optical communications will enable new science and exploration missions by providing high data rates and better navigation over long distances. This paper will briefly describe STMD’s envisioned future for deep space communications in the 2030+ timeframe and the technology roadmaps being developed for both radio frequency and optical systems.

Bernard Edwards↗
NASA NTRS1974

Optical communication in free space

Two classes of laser communication systems for handling very high data rates across inter-satellite distances are considered that provide for high antenna gains, wide modulation bandwidths, and optical receiver sensitivities. System design considerations are based upon the carbon dioxide laser modulation to accommodate digital or analog information, and the neodymium doped YAG laser pulse for digital modulation.

Plotkin, H. H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Optical communication for space missions

Activities performed at NASA/GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) related to direct detection optical communications for space applications are discussed. The following subject areas are covered: (1) requirements for optical communication systems (data rates and channel quality; spatial acquisition; fine tracking and pointing; and transmit point-ahead correction); (2) component testing and development (laser diodes performance characterization and life testing; and laser diode power combining); (3) system development and simulations (The GSFC pointing, acquisition and tracking system; hardware description; preliminary performance analysis; and high data rate transmitter/receiver systems); and (4) proposed flight demonstration of optical communications.

Firtmaurice, M.↗