High-Speed Optical Wireless System for Extreme Space Conditions

Abstract

In this paper, we present and deeply characterize a high-speed Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) system designed for use in space applications that operates at 1Gbit/s over a directed optical link for a point-to-point link inside a 3U CubeSat. The OWC transmitter is equipped with a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) that emits at 850nm, whilst the receiver uses a PIN Photo-Diode (PD) to detect the modulated signal. We tested the system under extreme conditions including mechanical stresses similar to those experienced during a launch on SpaceX Falcon-9 vehicle, with a realistic spectrum of mechanical vibrations (up to 10G), the temperature variation (between −40 and 80°C), and X-ray irradiation ranges (up to 1Mrad). All of these values were within the expected values (or even much higher) for a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mission. The results demonstrate that the OWC system can be suitable for use in space applications.