Small Optical Transponder for Small Satellite Data Transmission

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Small Optical Transponder for Small Satellite Data Transmission

Takayama, Yoshihisa / Koyama, Yoshisada / Akioka, Maki / Toyoshima, Morio

The National Institute of Information and Communication Technology (NICT) initiated the research and development activities to fabricate a new terminal for laser communications, named as the Small Optical TrAnsponder (SOTA). It is designed so as to exceed the data transmission of 1 Mbps and be able to be installed in a small satellite of around 50kg in mass. The purpose of the research and development activities is mainly to measure the atmospheric influence on propagating light and to evaluate the acquisition, tracking and pointing performances of the optical terminal.

Through a variety of tests to investigate the characteristics, the SOTA was successfully developed as a laser communication equipment to be installed in a small satellite. This chapter introduces the SOTA with its design, specifications, and performances. During the development processes, the optical link establishment and data transmission through the atmospheric influence were conducted. With the investigated tracking and the pointing characteristics and the estimated divergence angle of the SOTA, it is confirmed that the SOTA can illuminate the optical ground station even if the optical link is suffered from the atmosphere.