Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Development of a Lower-SWaP, RAD-Tolerant, Thermally Stable High Speed Fiber Optics Network for Harsh Environment Applications, Phase I
Project Introduction
The proposed Phase I objectives and work plan, carried through to completion, will result in the development of a RAD-tolerant, high-speed, multi-channel fiber optics transceiver, associated reconfigurable intelligent node communications architecture, and supporting hardware for intra-vehicular and ground-based optical networking applications with data rates exceeding 3.2Gbps per channel. The goals of this proposed program are perfectly in-line with the subtopic goals, which are to: "(1) develop high-performance processors and memory architectures and reliable electronic systems, and (2) develop an avionics architecture that is flexible, scalable, extensible, adaptable, and reusable." "The subtopic objective is to elicit novel architectural concepts and component technologies that are realistic and operate effectively and credibly in environments consistent with the future NASA Science missions."
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Anticipated Benefits
Applicable commercial systems would likely take the form of highly secure, low-power optical networks for harsh terrestrial environments and/or when highly secure and redundant networking system architectures are required,e.g. high-end, rapidly deployable optical networking w/i buildings, municipalities, etc. Applicable systems include intra-satellites, intra-spacecraft, lander and rover optical networking, in addition to lunar and Martian surface communications (each node being linked by either a ruggedized fiber optic cable designed for space flight or linked by harsh-environment deployable, miniaturized, free-space laser communications tri-pods being developed concurrently at Space Photnoics, Inc.).
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space Photonics, Inc. | Lead Organization | Industry | Fayetteville, Arkansas |
Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Greenbelt, Maryland |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Arkansas
-
Maryland
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Organization:
- Space Photonics, Inc.
Responsible Program:
- Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Principal Investigator:
- Matthew Leftwich
Project Duration
Start: Jan 2010
End: Jul 2010
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 1 |
| Current: | 4 |
| Estimated End: | 4 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TX02 Flight Computing and Avionics
- TX02.2 Avionics Systems and Subsystems
- TX02.2.5 High Speed Onboard Interconnects and Networks
Target Destination
The Moon
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This is a historic project that was completed before the creation of TechPort on October 1, 2012. Available data has been included. This record may contain less data than currently active projects.