Nutation Based Fine Tracking System for Space Optical Communication Terminals (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 5F.049)

Objectives: The objective of the activity is to develop a fine tracking system with reduced complexity and size. The fine tracking of optical communication terminals shall be based on Rx-fibre or Rxbeam nutation for probing the point spread function at the focal plane and will replace the need for a tracking sensor. Targeted improvements include reducing the size, weight, power, and cost of space optical communication terminals by 30%. Description: Nutation-based fibre tracking has been demonstrated on NASA's Lunar Atmospheric and Dust Environmental Explorer (LADEE) satellite. The technique replaces a tracking sensor and reduces the size, weight, power, and complexity of future optical communication terminals. This activity will develop a tracking system based on fibre nutation suitable for space-borne optical communication terminals with experimental testing to evaluate developed concepts.