Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Isolation Platform for Long Range Optical Communications, Phase II
Project Description
Optical communication links provide higher data transfer rates with lower mass, power, and volume than conventional radio-frequency links. For deep space applications at long operational ranges, high performance stabilization of the space terminal data link is required. To meet this need, CDI has developed a novel application of our free-floating isolation platform. Based upon a Shuttle-proven technology, this approach yields 6-DOF isolation from the disturbances of the host vehicle while providing high-bandwidth active stabilization to attenuate both payload disturbances as well as any residual disturbances transferred from the base across the power/data umbilical. The proposed approach is designed to achieve better than 0.5microradian-rms stabilization for all frequencies above 0.1Hz when operating on a spacecraft. Phase I developed the design concept, demonstrated robustness through sensitivity studies, demonstrated performance through simulation, and establish the feasibility of the approach to meet the space terminal isolation requirements. Component testing of the sensors and actuators further demonstrated that the design will meet the performance requirements. These tests and analyses advanced the technology to TRL-4. Phase II continues the development by ground testing an end-to-end prototype on a soft suspension testbed to demonstrate overall performance in a simulated low-g operational environment. Both acquisition search and beacon track will be demonstrated. Iterations of development and environment testing are performed to produce several space qualified 2-axis strut assemblies for delivery to NASA. Three strut assemblies rigidly mounted to any space terminal will provide 6-DOF isolation and high-bandwidth stabilization. These struts are designed for robustness so they can be used as an add-on to any rigid structure, thus enabling a broad range of space applications that require high-precision stabilization, isolation, and pointing.
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Anticipated Benefits
The isolation and stabilization technology developed through this research is targeted for insertion into NASA's deep space planetary missions demonstrating long range optical communications. The capability is considered a "Push Technology" enabling new missions or enhancing missions already planned for the Integrated Radio and Optical Communications (iROC) program, the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, and the Deep Space Optical Terminal (DOT) project. By providing component-level isolation and stabilization at the optical payload, this approach does not impose any unusual constraints on the host vehicle. This makes the technology broadly applicable to a wide range of vehicles including sRLVs, orbital RLVs, Earth orbiting satellites (even the simplest thruster-only designs), and deep space vehicles. The technology is targeted for high data throughput applications requiring optical links, but the core approach is applicable any space payload requiring high-performance isolation and stabilization. Applications include commercial and military communications satellites, next-generation large space telescopes, space-based interferometric telescopes, advanced geo-pointing surveillance and reconnaissance payloads, etc. NASA and the U.S. comprise less than half of the overall total satellite market, so there are significant international applications for the technology.
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Project Library
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled Dynamics Inc. | Lead Organization | Industry | Huntington Beach, California |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) | Supporting Organization | FFRDC/UARC | Pasadena, California |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
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California
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