A. Köhler, M.T. Knopp, A. Ohndorf

The permantly increasing demand for higher signal bandwidth of satellite links requires the intense usage of also higher carrier frequencies. Thus, optical channels are utilized. Those are not just allowing significantly larger data rates than common radio-frequency carriers but also feature a reduced susceptibility to interference. In addition to an increased degree of physical security, they offer the advantage of being able to dispense with complex licensing procedures. Terminals for laser-communication are ideally suited for deployment on small satellites because of their high power efficiency and compactness. Laser-based, sat-to-sat communication has been already verified in space and has been operationally deployed by the European Data Relay System (EDRS). But also applying this technology to direct satellite-to-Earth (DTE) connections holds tremendous potential. At this time, the RSC³ is errecting LaBoT (Laser-Bodenstation Trauen) for the optical communication with satellites in low Earth orbits. The primarily utilized counterparts will be OSIRIS-terminals of the DLR Institute of Communication and Navigation that follow the CCSDS standard "Optical On-Off Keying (O3K)". We present the design (mainly by company DiGOS Potsdam GmbH), the initial test site as well as the project status. With commissioning, the station will extend the existing DLR-network and thus increase its link availability. The deployable construction of the station will support investigating the impact of atmospheric conditions at different locations.

Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2022, Dresden

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn, 2023

Conference Paper

englisch

21,0 x 29,7 cm, 4 Seiten

urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023011312043647260045

10.25967/570124

Free-space optical communications, optical ground station

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Köhler, A.; Knopp, M.T.; Ohndorf, A. (2023): Setup of the Optical Ground Station in Trauen for Optical Free-Space Communication. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V.. (Text). https://doi.org/10.25967/570124. urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023011312043647260045.

13.01.2023