Acquisition And Tracking System For A Ground-Based Laser Communications Receiver Terminal

Ernest S. Clarke; Harley D. Brixey

doi:10.1117/12.932419

21 December 1981 Acquisition And Tracking System For A Ground-Based Laser Communications Receiver Terminal

Ernest S. Clarke, Harley D. Brixey

Proceedings Volume 0295, Control and Communication Technology in Laser Systems; (1981) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.932419
Event: 25th Annual Technical Symposium, 1981, San Diego, United States

Abstract

In December 1980, the Air Force Space Division Lasercom office completed field evaluation of 1 Gbps space laser communications system in an air-to-ground flight test program at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. A ground-based brassboard receiver terminal performed the functions of acquisition and tracking, beacon beam pointing, optical data reception at 1 Gbps, and optical data transmission at 20 kbps. The ground terminal is described from an acquisition and tracking viewpoint. The design of fast-steering pointing and tracking inner loops coupled with slower gimbal outer loops is discussed. Results of the recent field evaluation in terms of acquisition times and tracking accuracy are presented.

Citation Download Citation

Ernest S. Clarke and Harley D. Brixey "Acquisition And Tracking System For A Ground-Based Laser Communications Receiver Terminal", Proc. SPIE 0295, Control and Communication Technology in Laser Systems, (21 December 1981); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.932419

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