Abstract

Recent advancements in free-space optical (FSO) communications have made laser communication for small satellites a reality. The CubeISL laser communication terminal (LCT), a development of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), is designed to provide high-speed inter-satellite and groundto-satellite communication. To validate the terminal’s pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) capabilities on the ground, a test campaign was performed using two identical CubeISL terminals. The terminals were placed over 6 km apart, with one at the DLR premises in Oberpfaffenhofen and the other on top of a radio tower. This setup allowed mimicking on-ground the long-distance conditions of inter-satellite links in space, proving the system could establish a link. The campaign’s primary objective was to test the terminals’ robustness by varying initial pointing deviations and evaluating the efficiency of different search patterns, while assessing acquisition success and speed. The secondary goal was to perform bidirectional data exchange once a stable tracking link was established, proving the system’s end-to-end functionality. This paper details the campaign’s design and methods, presenting the results from the PAT and data exchange experiments. The findings highlight the performance of the CubeISL LCT as it moves toward space qualification.

Biography

Jorge Rosano Nonay is affiliated with German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany. His work contributes to research and innovation in aerospace science and advanced technologies, supporting scientific progress and interdisciplinary development in his field.