Greek Chelmos Observatory readies for Optical and Quantum Communication

Abstract

Via the Greek participation in ESA's Strategic Programme Line for Optical and Quantum Communication - ScyLight, the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, which is part of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) made its 2.3 m Aristarchos telescope of the Chelmos observatory available for experiments on Optical/Quantum and Deep-Space Communication. This paper describes the tests performed with Alphasat and outlines the optical communication equipment installations to convert the Chelmos observatory into an optical ground station (OGS). This is performed in view of ESA's High thRoughput Optical Network (HydRON) project and the European Quantum Communication Initiative (EuroQCI), in which two more Greek observatories (Skinakas on Crete and Cholomondas near Thessaloniki) will participate.