Optical Data Link between ARTEMIS and the OGS on Tenerife

STATUS | Completed
STATUS DATE | 10/01/2019
ACTIVITY CODE | 5C.162
Optical Data Link between ARTEMIS and the OGS on Tenerife

Objectives

The objectives of this project were to build up a breadboard of an optical beam delay system (BDS) compatible to the existing OGS on Tenerife and to investigate the inconsistencies of multi aperture up-link technique to ARTEMIS satellite seen in the past. Therefore a test campaign with several successful up-links was done after completion and integration of the BDS hardware. Main test objective was to evaluate if the multi-aperture fade mitigation technique in combination with different delay length (to get the individual beams temporally incoherent) is valid. Beside this additional test have been performed. Amongst others measurements of the tilt fluctuation, the Fried parameter r0 and scintillation effects.

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Challenges

The key issue of this project was the investigation of the inconsistencies of multi aperture up-link technique to ARTEMIS satellite seen in the past.

Therefore the development of an optical beam delay system compatible to the existing OGS on Tenerife and a test campaign with successful up-links to ARTEMIS satellite were the basis. 

Key issues with regard to the test results were the evaluation if the multi-aperture fade mitigation technique in combination with different delay lengths, to get the individual beams temporally incoherent, is valid.

Plan

03.2012: Artemis Kick-Off and analysis of existing hardware and test results
04.2012: PDR of Beam Delay System
05.2012: Finalisation of the mechanical and optical design
06.2012: CDR of Beam Delay System
07.2012: Integration of subunits and pre-testing of BDS performance
08.2012: Final integration and qualification tests of the BDS.
09.2012: Integration of the BDS to the OGS on Tenerife
10.2012: 1st test campaign on Tenerife
02.2013: Investigation campaign for checking the setup of the optical bench
04.2013: 2nd test campaign on Tenerife
05.2013: Analysis of test data
10.2013: Final report and scientific paper
11.2013: Project close-out

Current Status

The development, integration and implementation of the Beam Delay System were accomplished in September 2012. Within the measurement campaigns in October 2012 and in April 2013 at OGS on Tenerife a successful characterization of the uplink and downlink from the ARTEMIS satellite was done. Subsequent analysis of the test results show that the objectives of the project have been reached.

All results and activities of this project were summarised in the final report and a scientific paper in October 2013.

The current status of the project can be stated with successfully finished.