Satellite Optical Backplane

ABSTRACT: Data rates necessary to support the warfighter continue to increase. New satellite interconnects are needed which have minimal signal distribution weight and power overhead. Optical backplanes which accommodate these new"short haul"payload processing and"long haul"signal distribution across bus and payload subsystems are often fixed, dedicated interconnects with little to no flexibility to accommodate future applications. To meet the Air Force"s need for a high capacity optical backplane network for satellites built to meet the Operationally Responsive Space directives, Accipiter Systems is proposing to develop an Optical Burst Mode networking system with a passive optical core and intelligent ASIM modules that interface the optical network to sensors, processors and shared storage. The system is controlled by a central MAC controller, which will also be developed under the program and which ensures that network contention, congestion and traffic priority are handled effectively and without loss of data. The architecture will initially support up to 10 Gbps serial data between end systems. The data rate can also scale to 40 Gbps and above with no change in the optical core network. Accipiter Systems has gained considerable expertise in burst mode optical networking, working on programs for the Army, NAVAIR and DARPA. BENEFIT: The architecture developed on this program will allow implementation of a high bandwidth, all passive optical core for the satellite optical backbone. The proposed architecture will reduce space, weight, and power requirements for the satellite network as well as reduce the time for deployment configuration of satellites by providing a standard network for satellite payloads including sensors, processors, and shared storage.