LASER COMMUNICATIONS FOR SATELLITE MEGA-CONSTELLATIONS – NEWSPACE-STYLE April 2016 Dr. Markus Knapek Dr. Markus Knapek
Laser Communication at ViaLight Optical Network above the Clouds • Data rates up to 10Gbps Inter-Sat • 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 LEO-Ground Dr. Markus Knapek 2
Stratospheric Communciation Players March 2014 April 2014 Dr. Markus Knapek
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 Dr. Markus Knapek 4
ViaLight’s Flight Terminals and Ground Stations MLT-70/100 - Long-Range Inter- GS-200 Ground Station GS-400/600/800 Ground Station MLT-20 - Short-Distance Links Platform Air-to-Ground Satellite-to-Ground Application Scenarios Application Scenarios Application Scenarios Application Scenarios • • • Fast adhoc setup • Satellite-to-ground links Inter-aircraft, Inter-High Platform to ground links Altitude Platforms (HAP), • Characteristics Characteristics Inter-UAV at short distances flight platform to satellite • • 200mm station aperture 400/600/800mm Cassegrain Characteristics Characteristics telescopes • Weight <45kg • Link distance up to 50km • 70/100mm aperture • Bi-directional or asymmetric • Bi-directional or asymmetric • 20mm terminal • Up to 10Gbps on one communication at up to communication at up to • Weight 5-10kg channel 10Gbps 10Gbps • 1-10Gbps Dr. Markus Knapek 5
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 6 Dr. Markus Knapek Foto: J. Gietl 2013 @ Cassidian
Inter-Platform Link Laser Terminal Dr. Markus Knapek 7
Design and Quality Process Thermal Management Structural Design Quality & Testing Structural FEA simulations with Eigen-frequencies Life-time testing Heat-flow simulation Investigation of design alternatives for low weight Thermo-vacuum and vibration tests Implementation of thermal management Manufacturing documentation Dr. Markus Knapek 8
Modular Concept for Effective Series Production Dr. Markus Knapek 9
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) Dr. Markus Knapek 10
Contact Dr. Markus Knapek 11
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