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I.INTRODUCTIONNational Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has a long history of the R&D of space laser communications. Engineering Test Satellite VI (ETS-VI) experiments had been carried out between 1994 and 1996. The on-board equipment of 22 kg weight and 60 W power established 1 Mbps bi-directional optical links among ETS-VI and NICT’s Koganei OGS (optical ground station) in Tokyo. From 2006 to 2009, we performed laser communication experiments between OICETS satellite and the OGS, on 0.8 μm wavelength with data rate of 50 Mbps for downlink and 2 Mbps for uplink. In addition to the space-OGS links, satellite-satellite laser communication experiments were successfully carried out between OICETS and ESA’s ARTEMIS with the 50Mbps link. A microsatellite SOCRATES was built by AES (Advanced Engineering Services Co., Ltd.) and launched on HIIA in 2014. SOCRATES carries a laser communication system SOTA (Small Optical Transponder) developed by NICT ([1], [2]), and 10 Mbps communication links whose wavelengths are 1.5 μm and 0.98 μm have been performed between SOTA and NICT’s three OGSs (described later) for more than two years [3]. Fig. 1 shows the trend of data rate for space laser communications vs satellite launch years. Due to the appearance of large imaging sensor format etc., the data rate of the space communications is getting higher and higher in recent decades. Therefore, the realization of much higher data rate is required for the future space communications and we have to prepare for the development of ultra-high-speed space laser communication equipment. II.CURRENT MISSIONA.HICALI ProjectNICT has initiated a project called HICALI (HIgh speed Communication with Advanced Laser Instrument) to facilitate the next generation space laser communication research. The aim of the project is to achieve 10 Gbps-class space communications with a 1.5 μm laser beam from a geostationary satellite to OGS. The terminal is going to be launched on a next generation high throughout satellite (HTS) on the geostationary orbit (GEO) in 2021. In Fig. 2, we display the schematic drawing of the HTS project, which will equip not only the HICALI terminal but also radio frequency (RF) terminals. The main objectives of the HICALI project are as follows:
In addition to the objectives, it is expected that NICT and Japanese manufactures will be able to have knowledge of development of space laser communication components and also explore new users who have potential to use laser communications through the HICALI project. B.Partial Trial Manufacture for HICALIA feasibility study for the HICALI was conducted in 2014, and a number of critical parts for the project were identified. These include devices employing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) techniques, optical delay line interferometers, integrable tunable laser assemblies (ITLAs), and high speed digital processing devices. Several devices have been developed on a partial trial manufacturing basis (Fig. 3) and evaluated for space use such as an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, a data procession unit, and a WDM unit. C.Bread Board Model for HICALIThe device performances were assessed during the partial trial manufacturing stage, and a breadboard model (BBM, Fig. 4) was developed in 2015. We are currently evaluating the BBM as follows:
D.Optical Ground Stations of NICTNICT currently manages three OGSs at Koganei HQ in Tokyo, Kashima Space Technology Center in Ibaraki Pref. and Okinawa Electromagnetic Technology Center in Okinawa Pref. (Fig. 2), and each facility has a 1m optical telescope. Through regular operation the HICALI terminal on the HTS, we plan to conduct site diversity propagation experiments using these OGSs. We now push ahead the conceptual designs of transmitting and receiving optics at the OGSs. III.III.REFERENCESM. Toyoshima,
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