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Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer

Integrated Optical Transmitter for Space Based Applications, Phase II

Completed Technology Project

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Integrated Optical Transmitter for Space Based Applications, Phase II

Next generation optical modems for NASA will be based on the RZ-DPSK modulation format. This modulation format is robust, delivers high quantum efficiency and allows burst-mode operation, key when using a power limited transmitter in combination with a fixed delay line DPSK demodulator. Freedom Photonics approach in this proposed program is to integrate the laser, modulator, and amplifier into a single transmitter photonic integrated circuit (PIC). Photonic integration reduces the cost, size, weight, and power (C-SWaP) of the transmitter optical component so that they can fit into a package the size of a half-dollar coin or smaller. It will be realized using an Indium Phosphide photonic integration platform, well suited for space application. The Phase II effort will culminate in a FSO demonstration in a laboratory environment demonstrating transmission of RZ-DPSK signals.

Anticipated Benefits

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This proposed work will make space science and exploration more effective, affordable, and sustainable in that it will enable low cost and low SWaP technologies for space communications, freeing up resources for other onboard systems. The PIC technology will also better utilize the high bandwidth afforded by optics and scale readily to higher data rates. This technology will allow more frequent and lower cost missions and allow for incorporating free space laser modems on smaller satellites (ex. cubesats) and small craft (ex. drones). The FSO transmitter technology is also applicable to a range of commercial FSO link applications, both space based and terrestrial. 1550nm is eye safe, which will allow up to two orders of magnitudes higher emitted power while maintaining eye safety for terrestrial communications links. For this reason, the developed transmitter technology will be ideally suited for implementation in long-range FSO link applications. More »

Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners

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Organizations Performing Work	Role	Type	Location
Freedom Photonics, LLC	Lead Organization	Industry	Santa Barbara, California
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)	Supporting Organization	NASA Center	Greenbelt, Maryland
University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley)	Supporting Organization	Academia	Berkeley, California

Primary U.S. Work Locations

California
Maryland

Technology Transitions

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Transition Events

September 2017: Advanced from another project within the program More »

September 2017: Project Start

Project Management

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Technology Maturity (TRL)

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Start:	2
Current:	4
Estimated End:	4

Applied Research

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Demo & Test

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Integrated Optical Transmitter for Space Based Applications, Phase II

Project Description

Anticipated Benefits

Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners

Primary U.S. Work Locations

Technology Transitions

Transition Events

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Lead Organization:

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