Paper 13355-42
Paper 13355-42
Initial results from NASA’s Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT) at Goddard Space Flight Center
30 January 2025 • 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM PST | Moscone South, Room 208 (Level 2)
Abstract
We present the initial results from testing of the Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT) at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). LCOT is designed to be a single modular design that can be quickly reconfigured to support different laser communications missions. LCOT is built around a 70cm commercially available telescope designed with optical and quantum communications in mind. We have installed a state-of-the-art adaptive optics system, novel high-power laser amplifiers, and other innovative subsystems developed by our team to facilitate laser communications. We have conducted tests of our LCOT system against operational space terminals, demonstrating our ability to receive a downlink and transmit an uplink. We show and give analysis of the results of these tests. We will also detail our plans for the future of the LCOT facility.
Presenter
NASA Goddard Space Flight Ctr. (United States)
I joined NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in 2009 to work on the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration.(LLCD) Since then I have worked on the Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD), Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T), Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O), and am PI on the Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT) project. Prior to joining NASA I worked on the Keck Observatory Laser Guide Star.