Dr. Markus Knapek

LASER COMMUNICATIONS FOR SATELLITE MEGA-CONSTELLATIONS –

NEWSPACE-STYLE

April 2016 Dr. Markus Knapek

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Laser Communication at ViaLight

Optical Network above the Clouds

• Data rates up to 10Gbps

• Low SWaP, <10kg

• Competitive price for terminals in LEO

Today’s Business at ViaLight

• Stratospheric inter-platform links with large commercial customers

• Industrial manufacturing approach for larger series

• Path towards large constellations of small satellites

Inter-HAP

Inter-Sat

LEO-Ground

Dr. Markus Knapek

Stratospheric Communciation Players

March 2014

April 2014

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Laser Communication for the New Space Market

Communication: • SpaceX • OneWeb • LeoSat

Earth Observation • SkyBox Imaging • PlanetLabs • BlackSky • UrtheCast

• Need for inexpensive solutions to make ambitious business models work • Rather industrial than traditional space manufacturing approach

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MLT-20 - Short-Distance Links

ViaLight’s Flight Terminals and Ground Stations

Application Scenarios

• Inter-aircraft, Inter-High Altitude Platforms (HAP), flight platform to satellite

Characteristics

• 70/100mm aperture

• Up to 10Gbps on one channel

Application Scenarios

• Platform to ground links

• Inter-UAV at short distances

Characteristics

• Link distance up to 50km

• 20mm terminal

• Weight 5-10kg

• 1-10Gbps

MLT-70/100 - Long-Range Inter-Platform

GS-200 Ground Station Air-to-Ground

Application Scenarios

• Fast adhoc setup

Characteristics

• 200mm station aperture

• Weight <45kg

• Bi-directional or asymmetric communication at up to 10Gbps

GS-400/600/800 Ground Station Satellite-to-Ground

Application Scenarios

• Satellite-to-ground links

Characteristics

• 400/600/800mm Cassegrain telescopes

• Bi-directional or asymmetric communication at up to 10Gbps

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Proof of Concept under Extreme Test Conditions ViaLight MLT-20 on a Jet-Fighter Platform

Secure link despite: • Poor weather conditions • 750km/h, 7km altitude, 60km range • Extreme shocks with afterburner

Foto: J. Gietl 2013 @ Cassidian

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Inter-Platform Link Laser Terminal

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Design and Quality Process

Thermal Management Structural Design Quality & Testing

Heat-flow simulation

Implementation of thermal management

Structural FEA simulations with Eigen-frequencies

Investigation of design alternatives for low weight

Manufacturing documentation

Life-time testing

Thermo-vacuum and vibration tests

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Modular Concept for Effective Series Production

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Space Demonstration of MLT-70 on MUSES

• Partnership with various space companies and experts

• Near-term demonstration of a low-cost laser terminal on MUSES on the ISS

• Laser terminal based on the already existing stratospheric MLT-70

• Prototype for small satellite laser terminals (Sat2Ground, Inter-Sat)

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Contact