Integration and test results for the Cobalt Low-SWaP Optical Communication Terminal

Blue Cubed has developed Cobalt, a size, weight about power-optimized optical communication terminal intended for small satellites. Cobalt employs a patented differential tracking approach and operates at silicon-friendly wavelengths to benefit from power-efficient laser diodes, wide field of view acquisition sensors, and low k-eff avalanche photodiode detectors. The terminal also incorporates a coarse pointing gimbal and a star camera to allow the system to self-orient while the host spacecraft conducts its primary mission.  In this paper we will present the system integration and test results in preparation for an initial orbit demonstration in late 2025.