OPTEL-µ: Optical Terminal for Small Satellite LEO Applications · OPTEL-µ: Optical Terminal for...

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83230910-DOC-TAS-EN-003 10/11/2016 Ref.: DLR OLEODL Workshop OPTEL-μ: Optical Terminal for Small Satellite LEO Applications Christoph Roth OEI Opto AG

Transcript of OPTEL-µ: Optical Terminal for Small Satellite LEO Applications · OPTEL-µ: Optical Terminal for...

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10/11/2016

Ref.: DLR OLEODL Workshop

OPTEL-µ: Optical Terminal for

Small Satellite LEO Applications

Christoph Roth

OEI Opto AG

2015, Thales Alenia Space

Presentation Outline

System Overview

Communications Subsystem Overview

OPTEL-µ Space Terminal:

Block Diagram

Flight Design

Status of EQM Development

In-Orbit Demonstration

Outlook

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System Overview

Optical downlink to increase mission data

return

Small Sats in LEO Orbit

Modular design of space terminal for various

satellite providers

Developed by OEI Opto AG (former RUAG

Space) under ESA ARTES5.2 / ARTES 3-4

Multiple low-cost ground stations to secure cloud

mitigation

First Flight Model planned for 2017

Small Space Terminal

2x 1Gbps downlink (1550nm)

Low mass, low volume, low power footprint:

8 kg, 8 lt, 43 W

Ground Terminal

0.6 m Ø telescope

Uplink beacon laser

Low-rate uplink service channel (~25kbps)

Laser Safety Class 1M, based on

1064nm LIDAR technology

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Use Cases

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Use Case 1 : “Eye-in-the-Sky” Use Case 3 : Payload Data Download

Use Case 2 : Add-on to RF System

Use Case 1 : Profit from high data rates

of 2Gbit/s

Use Case 2 : Double data volumes with

+25% on-board resources

Use Case 3 : Site Diversity

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Communications Subsystem: Overview

A highly robust and flexible

communications scheme is essential

to maximize data volume over

atmospheric channel

OPTEL-µ communications subsystem

can adapt to varying atmospheric

channel conditions relying on three key

features:

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PPM and OOK modulation

OOK maximizes data throughput for good link conditions and short link distance

PPM increases sensitivity and throughput for challenging conditions and long distance

FEC coded transmission

FEC coded transmission with tunable code rates keeps error-rate low and allows for

instantaneous adaptation to varying link conditions

Automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol

ARQ enables high data throughput with high reliability (e.g. against deep fades)

Can be implemented with very low overhead and latency in space and on ground

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Communications Subsystem: User Data Format

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Data transmission is divided into packets

Packets are coded and modulated according to current MCS setting as scheduled

by ground terminal

ARQ feature allows for low-latency re-transmission of lost or corrupt packets

ARQ decisions based on CRC included in packet

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Communications Subsystem: Data Rate versus Power Trade-off

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Implemented communications scheme provides wide dynamic range, high

flexibility, and high reliability

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OPTEL-µ Space Terminal: Block Diagram

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OPTEL-µ ST

comprises three units:

Optical Head

Laser Unit

Electronics Unit

Benefit of this

modular approach:

Facilitates flexible

integration on the

spacecraft

Distributed thermal /

electrical loads

Optimised for use on

micro-satellites

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OPTEL-µ Space Terminal: Optical Head

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Optical Head (OH) comprises:

Micro-Pointing Assembly:

Point towards the Optical Ground Station

Track the received beacon signal

Optical Bench:

Receive beacon signal and relay it onto the

acquisition and tracking sensors (AS and TS)

Collimate the communications laser and beacon

signals (from the Laser Unit)

Route the optical signals to / from the µPA

Implement telescope function (beam expander) as

part of the OB

OH Electronics:

Readout AS and TS, encoder sensors of the µPA

and drive the actuators and motors

Optical Head EQM Design

Optical Head with Back

Cover Removed (Showing

Optical Bench)

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OPTEL-µ Space Terminal: Laser Unit

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Laser Unit (LU) comprises:

Pulsed Laser Transmitter:

PLT provides two individually modulated optical channels

each at a raw data rate of 1.25Gbps

Two optical channels are at wavelengths of 1545nm and

1565nm

Optical Fibre Amplifier:

OFA incorporates two individual optical fibre amplifiers that

are optically pumped at 980nm to achieve the required

amplification

Three output signals are generated by the OFA – two

communications signals and the space beacon signal

For each optical channel the output power required from the

OFA is 100mW at end of life.

PLT EQM

OFA EQM

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OPTEL-µ Space Terminal: Electronics Unit

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Electronics Unit (EU) comprises:

Power Conditioning Unit (PCU) :

PCU derives from the spacecraft power bus the supply

voltages for the operation of the ST

PCU can operate in a low-power mode (where not all

functionality is required) and the ‘downlink’ mode

Terminal Control Unit (TCU):

Control and operation of the OPTEL-µ ST

Communications subsystem

Telemetry / telecommand (TM/TC) interface

User data interface to the satellite payload. User data is

stored in a Buffer Memory (100GB) prior to a downlink.

RF Modulator (RFM):

RFM serializes the parallel communications data

stream and amplifies the 1.25 Gbps serial stream

which is then used to modulate the seed laser in the

PLT

Electronics Unit EQM Design

Electronics Board Configuration

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OPTEL-µ Space Terminal: EQM Development Status

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Optical Head:

µPA – assembly of EQM on-going.

Commissioning tests to be held in Nov. 2016.

Optical Bench – qualification tests completed.

Delivery end Sept. 2016.

Optical Head Electronics – manufacture of the

OHE EQM electronics on-going

Laser Unit:

Pulsed Laser Transmitter – integration

completed and performance tests on-going

Optical Fibre Amplifier – integration of the OFA

EQM on-going

Electronics Unit:

Power Conditioning Unit – performance tests

on-going. Delivery planned for Nov. 2016.

Terminal Control Unit – manufacture of the

TCU EQM on-going

RF Modulator – manufacture of the TCU EQM

on-going

Optical Bench EQM µPA EQM

PLT EQM OFA EQM

Electronics Unit EM+

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In-Orbit Demonstration Opportunity

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OPTEL-µ EQM as a “passenger” payload

on a LEO Earth observation spacecraft:

Not part of / used in main mission

Use platform resources to operate, but

mission is independent of OPTEL-µ

Potential to use OPTEL-µ as part of the

mission once IOD successfully completed

Current Status:

Accommodation of OPTEL-µ space terminal

completed

Thermo-mechanical and electrical interfaces

consolidated

Manufacturing of OPTEL-µ Structural Model

(SM) tests completed

Optical Head SM

OPTEL-µ

Optical Head

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Outlook

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EQM development timeline:

Environmental Tests = Feb. – Apr. 2017

System Tests = May 2017

Shipment to S/C for IOD = June 2017

IOD timeline:

S/C AIT = H2 2017

Launch = Jan. 2018 (TBC)

IOD in 2018 – 12 month duration

Commercialisation of the OPTEL-µ product:

Discussions on-going with a number of satellite operators / Earth Observation users

interested to procure and use OPTEL-µ in their system

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Acknowledgements

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Development of the OPTEL-µ optical terminal is being funded jointly by ESA and OEI Opto

AG under the ARTES programme. The authors would like to express our gratitude to Paul

van Loock and Dr. Zoran Sodnik at ESTEC, together with the Swiss Space Office and

national delegations of all subcontractors for their continued support in the execution of this

work.

In addition, we gratefully acknowledge the contributions and support from our partners and

subcontractors involved in the OPTEL-µ development – these being:

Deimos (UK) for supporting on S/C accommodation and mission scenarios,

Gooch & Housego (UK) for the design and development of the Optical Fibre Amplifier,

LusoSpace (Portugal) for the design and development of the Pulsed Laser Transmitter,

RUAG Space (Finland) for the design and development of the Power Conditioning Unit,

SES Techcom (Luxembourg) for supporting on the Optical Ground Station Integration,

SSC (Sweden) for Ground Network Analysis,

TNO and Nedinsco (The Netherlands) and Meopta (Czech Republic) for the design and

development of the Optical Bench.

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