JAXA | Optical satellite communication (LUCAS) Two-way optical link success: Capture and track ground stations
February 17, 2021
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA):
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT):
On November 29, 2020, the Optical Satellite Inter-Satellite Communication System (LUCAS) was launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 43 from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Optical satellite communication system (LUCAS):
This time, we succeeded in “mutual capture and tracking between optical communication equipment and optical ground stations (* 2)”.
JAXA:
Currently, we are conducting “checkout the operation of orbital equipment” for LUCAS.
Opposite communication test started:
From January 27, 2021
NICT’s optical ground station and
With LUCAS on the satellite
The opposite communication test has started.
Bi-directional optical link verification:
The NICT optical ground station is 40,000 km away from the optical data relay satellite.
We succeeded in mutual capture and tracking between the two, and confirmed that a bidirectional optical link was established.
Optical data relay satellites and optical ground stations:
We carried out verification that “NICT optical ground station is regarded as an optical communication device on the low earth orbit satellite side that is the actual communication partner”.
The following operations were confirmed between the optical data relay satellite and the optical ground station, and the operation was completed smoothly.
Capture signals from each other
To maintain the communication line
Necessary tracking, ability to operate,
LUCAS’s most important technology:
From a distance of 40,000 km
Communication partners within a range of about 0.5 km in diameter,
Technology / performance for capturing and tracking in outer space
We confirmed that the performance was as planned.