A Beacon Tracker And Point Ahead System For Optical Communications

David Greenwald; Chris McLaughlin

doi:10.1117/12.977987

26 September 1989 A Beacon Tracker And Point Ahead System For Optical Communications

David Greenwald, Chris McLaughlin

Proceedings Volume 1111, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing III; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.977987
Event: SPIE 1989 Technical Symposium on Aerospace Sensing, 1989, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

This paper describes the design and fabrication of a self contained satellite beacon tracking system for optical communications. This device is installed on a tracking mount and uses high bandwidth steering mirrors to effectively cancel atmospheric turbulence and mount jitter. The steering mirrors are integrated with a 20-cm, unobscured telescope used for receiving the beacon and for transmitting a modulated communications uplink. Satellite range and velocity calculated for its ephemeris are used to offset the transmitted beam from the beacon by as much as 50 microradians to compensate for optical transit time.

Citation Download Citation

David Greenwald and Chris McLaughlin "A Beacon Tracker And Point Ahead System For Optical Communications", Proc. SPIE 1111, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing III, (26 September 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.977987

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