Title :
Optical communications payload for the SATEX I experimental microsatellite
Author :
Mendieta, F. Javier ; Pacheco, Enrique ; Arvizu, Arturo ; Muraoka, Ramon
Author_Institution :
CICESE Res. Center, Ensenada, Mexico
Abstract :
The experimental development of an optical payload for free space communications is presented. This payload is designed to operate in the SATEX I mission that consists of an experimental LEO microsatellite development for technological and research purposes. This experiment consists of the design and implementation of a transmitter in 830 nm like the information channel (downlink) and a photoreceiver in the 530 nm that collects the Earth station beacon (uplink) for acquisition and pointing purposes. We have projected as primary goal BER and attenuation measurements in the downlink channel. The technical aspects of the design of all the subsystems are presented, including the link calculation, the characterization of the prototype and the expected performance
Keywords :
artificial satellites; optical links; optical receivers; optical transmitters; satellite links; 530 nm; 830 nm; BER measurements; LEO microsatellite; SATEX I experimental microsatellite; SATEX I mission; attenuation measurements; downlink channel; free space communications; information channel; optical communications payload; photoreceiver; pointing; transmitter design; Attenuation measurement; Bit error rate; Downlink; Low earth orbit satellites; Optical attenuators; Optical fiber communication; Optical transmitters; Payloads; Satellite ground stations; Space technology;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 2001, IEEE Proceedings.
Conference_Location :
Big Sky, MT
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-6599-2
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.2001.931386
