SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION
PROJECT SUMMARY
Proposal Number:
Project Title:
LOW COST GROUND TERMINAL FOR SATELLITE LASER COMMUNICATIONS
Technical Abstract:
Laser communications offers the potential for transferring
information at data rates higher than 1 Gigabit per second
between Low Earth Orbit satellites and the ground with a
satellite terminal weighing less than 10 kg. Such a high data rate
satellite to ground link is of interest for downloading large
amounts of data (such as multispectral images) from Earth Sensing
Satellites, where there is currently a communications bottleneck.
In addition, global satellite communications networks such as M
otorola's Iridium system may make use of supplementary laser-based
high data rate up/down links. One key to achieving such capability
is the ability to overcome local clouds by deploying large numbers
of spatially separated, low cost autonomous ground lasercom terminals,
linked to users through fiber optics. These terminals must be
designed to overcome atmospheric scintillation effects to minimize
the complexity of the satellite terminals. Phase I will resolve
whether atmosphere induced fluctuations in the uplink intensity
(beacon and communications channel) can be significantly reduced
by combining multiple transmitters emanating from separate apertures
distributed over a reasonably small area (diameter < 60 cm). The
results will be used in the design of a low cost ground terminal
to be built in Phase II.
Potential Commercial Applications:
Laser Communications between satellites and the ground has
commercial applications to proposed global communications networks
such as Iridium and Teledesic, and to single data collecting
satellites being deployed in Low Earth Orbit. In addition,
scintillation reduction is important for high data rate building
to building lasercom links connecting Local Area Networks.
Name and Address of Offeror:
(Firm Name, Mail Address)
AstroTerra Corporation
11526 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite V
San Diego, CA 92121
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) &
Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) Programs
Electronic Management System (EMS)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The SBIR/STTR EMS site is maintained by Steve
Hu, Hughes STX.
For comments and questions, contact
webmaster@sbir.hq.nasa.gov.
Updated: Feb. 7, 1996