Demonstration of Bidirectional Tracking and Data Transfer with the CubeISL Optical Communication Terminal

Kurzfassung

This paper presents the experimental results of a free-space optical link validating the capabilities of two integrated CubeISL terminals. The campaign serves as a verification of the tracking, pointing and acquisition of the terminals before launch of the CubeISL mission. The link was conducted over a distance of 6600 m between the rooftop of the DLR Institute of Communication and Navigation in Oberpfaffenhofen and a 80 m high radio tower in Schöngeising. To ensure robust link establishment, the system employed a Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking scheme utilizing both a 10 kHz modulated beacon for initial acquisition and a Continuous Wave signal for tracking during data transmission. The terminals, operating at a maximum output power of 1300 mW, were evaluated under various conditions, including day and night operations. Specifically, the performance of different automated acquisition patterns including Spiral-Spiral and Spiral-Rose was analyzed to determine their efficiency in overcoming initial pointing errors. The paper concludes with the results of the Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking and data transmission experiments demonstrating the viability of the CubeISL terminals for high-stability, bidirectional optical communication in a satellite-to-satellite configuration.