Fibertek has developed a lunar orbiter–based optical communications terminal for NASA’s Artemis lunar orbiter and small satellite science missions. The terminal is designed to support lunar and Heliophysics missions and features multi-waveform OOK/PPM capability compatible with NASA’s Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System ground stations. This low size, weight, and power (SWaP) terminal offer significant advantages over other lunar and extended-range optical communications systems. It is traceable to NASA’s Moon-to-Mars initiatives, providing scalability for future mission needs. This paper presents an overview of the engineering model terminal, including design features, performance metrics, and link budget modeling results for high-speed lunar optical communications. Additionally, we highlight key advancements in optical communications technologies that facilitate efficient data transmission across long-range space environments.


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    Title :

    Small satellite lunar optical communications for NASA Science and Artemis


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Free-Space Laser Communications XXXVII ; 2025 ; San Francisco, California, United States


    Published in:

    Proc. SPIE ; 13355 ; 133550E


    Publication date :

    2025-03-19





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





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