A Laser Communication Experiment Utilizing The ACT Satellite And An Airborne Laser Transceiver

C. Provencher; Rod Spence

doi:10.1117/12.976559

2 May 1988 A Laser Communication Experiment Utilizing The ACT Satellite And An Airborne Laser Transceiver

C. Provencher, Rod Spence

Proceedings Volume 0885, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.976559
Event: 1988 Los Angeles Symposium: O-E/LASE '88, 1988, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The launch of a laser communication transmitter package into geosynchronous earth orbit onboard the Advanced Communications Technology (ACT) satellite will present an excellent opportunity for the experimental reception of laser communication signals transmitted from a space orbit. The ACTS laser package includes both a heterodyne transmitter (Lincoln Labs design) and a direct detection transmitter (Goddard Space Flight Center design) with both sharing some common optical components. Lewis Research Center's Space Electronics Division is planning to perform a space communication experiment utilizing the GSFC direct detection laser transceiver. The laser receiver will be installed within an aircraft provided with a glass port for the reception of the signal. This paper describes the experiment and the approach to performing such an experiment. Described are the constraints placed upon the LeRC experiment by the performance parameters of the laser transmitter and by the ACTS spacecraft operations. The conceptual design of the receiving terminal is given; also included is the anticipated performance capability of the detector.

Citation Download Citation

C. Provencher and Rod Spence "A Laser Communication Experiment Utilizing The ACT Satellite And An Airborne Laser Transceiver", Proc. SPIE 0885, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies, (2 May 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.976559

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