A Modular Miniature Satellite Laser Communications Transceiver

For this Phase I SBIR proposal, Space Photonics puts forth highly innovativesolutions for multi-access satellite clusters using our proposed miniature modularfree-space laser communications transceiver subsystem. By virtue of our uniquedevice and application specific designs, our laser cross-link transceivers providewide field-of-view access without the need for the power hungry gimbaling that istypically required for accurate acquisition and tracking. Additionally, thetransceiver provides for enhanced utility for open architecture implementations,optimized link power budget efficiency, and a straightforward modular interfacedesigned for satellite power and data bus interfaces. Our proposed techniques anddevice designs were not possible just a few years ago, but with the most recentadvances in device fabrication technology, our idea can be implemented and provideenormous value to laser cross-link systems.Our planned laser communications product line has enormous market potential,since to our knowledge, no such product has ever been conceptualized. Thedevices, firmware, software, and subsystems that will make up this productline will provide us with a large market opportunity in both the Governmentand commercial sectors. We anticipate broad use of these products in the lastmile metro-area network markets and the rapidly growing multi-satelliteapplications market.