On February 27, the Aerospace Corporation announced that it has achieved a milestone in small satellite innovation by successfully demonstrating the first optical crosslink between a pair of 6-unit CubeSats in low-Earth orbit (LEO). This breakthrough, named Flashlight Laser Crosslink, enables small satellites to operate collaboratively in formations, unlocking new possibilities for commercial and government missions, the company said.
“In 2018, our engineers successfully demonstrated a one-way laser transmission to a surface station using CubeSats. Now, we’ve advanced that capability by miniaturizing laser and receiver targeting mechanisms to establish a bi-directional link between CubeSats—reducing power demands and costs for future missions,” said Steve Isakowitz, Aerospace president and CEO. “This level of miniaturization presents challenges industry has yet to tackle at scale. Aerospace is bridging that gap, working closely with industry to transition this technology for commercial and government use.”
The demonstration used primarily commercial off the shelf parts and a 2.5-unit laser communication terminal to perform bi-directional data transfer between two CubeSats, smaller than toaster ovens, at distances of up to 348 miles (560 kilometers). Data rates of 312.5 megabits per second (Mbps) uncorrected were achieved, and error free transmission at 25 Mbps. Independent steering of the transmitter and receiver enable automatic, active alignment, maintaining connectivity over long distances. This increase in CubeSat communication rates is equivalent to going from working together at a dial-up modem speed to high-speed internet.
The successful test highlights Aerospace’s role in advancing technology that enables the commercial market to build better, more capable systems. By leveraging decades of expertise, Aerospace is paving the way for industry partners to deploy innovative satellite constellations that meet the increasing demands of data-driven applications, according to the company.
“The Flashlight Laser Crosslink drastically enhances communication between small satellites, providing them with robust, high-speed data transfer capabilities once limited to larger, more expensive platforms,” said Todd Rose, the mission’s lead. “By bringing high-speed optical communication to CubeSats, we can empower commercial operators to deploy more efficient systems, bridging the gap between affordability and performance.”
Source: Aerospace
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