Holographic Inter-Spacecraft Transceiver System

NASA is seeking communication networks that will seamlessly connect terrestrial and space-based nodes, featuring high data rates, high capacity, interactivity with orbital platforms, secure operations, and low latency. In response, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a novel high-speed, cost-effective, lightweight Holographic Inter-Spacecraft Transceiver (HoIST) communication system, based on flat optics -- environmentally stable, high-efficiency, aberration-corrected large-aperture holographic optical elements (HOEs) -- for inter-spacecraft networks. The HoIST transceiver consists of transmitters that can operate in the 830-1550 nm range or the telecommunications bands S (1480 - 1525 nm), C (1528 - 1565 nm) and L (1570 - 1610 nm), and receivers based on thin multiplexed HOEs, which represent aberration and wavefront-corrected 20 in. transmission-reflection-type phase gratings, arranged in a polygonal configuration. This approach is well suited for any of the inter-spacecraft network configurations (star, ad hoc, or cluster). HoIST is low-cost, lightweight, and fully field-corrected, and supports dynamic communications between orbiting spacecraft with data rates in excess of gigabits per second. In Phase I, POC will develop a preliminary HoIST model to demonstrate its feasibility. In Phase II, an advanced optimized prototype for point-to-multi-point communications will be developed.