Publication
Laser communication has potential advantages in comparison to radio frequency communication for space vehicles. The project team developed the concept of the bidirectional communication system for free space (FSO) laser communication links from space terminals (ST) at low Earth orbit (LEO) nano-, microsatellites with emphasis on CubeSat or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to transportable or to stationary positioned optical ground based terminal (GT) to achieve the high data rate communications. Very accurate pointing and tracking capability will be provided by options of optical auto-tracking for both ST and GT. This capability will provide fast moving of flying platforms with very precise visible movement tracking of their optical axes of telescopes and their optical alignment. Such improvement will allow optical transmission of data over a long distance while requiring fewer resources from the hardware of flying platform ST. These solutions give significant advantages compared to existing solutions. Our innovative diffraction resolution without aberration of the optical system with broad spectrum band will be used for the ST during of work of transmission, receiving, and video optical channels. The optical systems of GT embedded in the lightweight 2-axes alt-azimuth mount with enhanced turning range will allow smooth, high-speed tracking without any gaps at zenith. All optical system axes of GT and the alt-azimuth mount axes are controlled by an auto-collimator having unique auto-adjustment feature. The innovative stationary positioned GT is also proposed.