Optical communication equipment in base stations

What is an optical ground station?

Unlike a traditional ground station with a radiofrequency (RF) antenna, an optical ground station consists of a telescope and optoelectronic components for laser communication transmission and reception. The optical ground stations also integrate the latest addition to the Cortex family, the Cortex Lasercom.

Are Transportable Optical ground stations a viable alternative for ground-to-space FSOC development?

To date, the construction of traditional optical ground stations (OGS) sites has been the focus of the vast majority of ground-to-space FSOC development. However, transportable optical ground stations (TOGS) have been presented as a versatile alternative with some key advantages 7, 8, 9.

Are optical communications a good choice for ground-to-space satellite communications?

Despite the challenges, the data rate and SWaP advantages of optical communications make them ideal for ground-to-space satellite communications, which are subject to increased demands each year as the amount of data generated by on-orbit sensors increases.

Who is behind the optical communications terminal standard?

Morizur said an ally in the cause has been the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency with the release last year of the Optical Communications Terminal Standard Version 3.1.0, which are a set of technical specifications that optical terminal manufacturers have to comply with in order to compete for SDA contracts.