Connecting the warfighter with lasers in space: the space development agency and the optical communications terminal standard

David Wayne; Stephanos Rahimzadeh; Nick Cote; Daniel Kepler; Michael Butterfield; Julie Smith; Seth Lacy

doi:10.1117/12.3005520

12 March 2024 Connecting the warfighter with lasers in space: the space development agency and the optical communications terminal standard

David Wayne, Stephanos Rahimzadeh, Nick Cote, Daniel Kepler, Michael Butterfield, Julie Smith, Seth Lacy

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12877, Free-Space Laser Communications XXXVI; 1287712 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3005520
Event: SPIE LASE, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is developing the Proliferated Warfare Space Architecture (PWSA) – a constellation of hundreds of satellites in low earth orbit delivering space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter. The PWSA is a mesh network of optically connected satellites providing low-latency data transport and missile warning/tracking capabilities. SDA capitalizes on a unique business model that values speed and lowers costs by harnessing commercial development. The Optical Communications Terminal (OCT) standard was created to provide optical interoperability specifications, enable a strong marketplace, and to drive advancements in optical communication capabilities to terrestrial, maritime, and airborne warfighting elements. As part of the spiral development process, the OCT standard evolves with PWSA deployment phases. SDA has incorporated feedback as well as advancements to the OCT standard, resulting in the release of version 3.1.0. In this paper we discuss key aspects of the OCT standard, such as wavelength, modulation, data rates, polarization, link distance, error correction coding, pointing, acquisition and tracking, and position, navigation, and timing.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

David Wayne, Stephanos Rahimzadeh, Nick Cote, Daniel Kepler, Michael Butterfield, Julie Smith, and Seth Lacy "Connecting the warfighter with lasers in space: the space development agency and the optical communications terminal standard", Proc. SPIE 12877, Free-Space Laser Communications XXXVI, 1287712 (12 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3005520

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