Free space laser communications offers a distinct advantage over radio frequency technologies in situations where extremely high data rates are required with minimal size, weight and power. Experiments using state of the art high speed laser diodes and high sensitivity avalanche photodiodes have demonstrated the capabilities of lasercom for long range high data rate applications. Over the last two years, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), contracting through the U. S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command (SSDC), has been funding the development of a high data rate laser communication terminal projected to be flown on the second Space Technology Research Vehicle (STRV-2) in 1998. The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate a laser uplink and downlink from a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite. The success of this experiment will validate the readiness of laser communication technology for satellite cross links and LEO up and down links. The design of the steering system is based on a novel gimbal design using direct drive hollow core brushless dc motors, high accuracy inductive encoders and a high frame rate CCD camera beacon tracking system. This paper discusses the details of the control and electronic design of the tracking system.

Date Published: 22 April 1996
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 2699, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies VIII, (22 April 1996); doi: 10.1117/12.238412

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2699:
Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies VIII
G. Stephen Mecherle, Editor(s)