Compact Free Space Optical Communication Transceivers for CubeSats

Freedom Photonics proposes to develop revolutionary miniaturized Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) transceivers that are so compact that they are suited as payload module for CubeSats as small as 3U size. The transceiver will realize low cost, size, weight and power through high power Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) technology and non-mechanical beam steering technology. Unlike RF, FSOC is inherently power efficient due to the high antenna gain from small optical wavelengths and is hard to detect and intercept. Operating in optical bands with orders of magnitude greater bandwidth, FSOC transceiver would be of great benefit to Army in bandwidth crowded RF small satellite communications. Compact modular FSOC transceiver payload would be of great utility for civilian satellites requiring communication bandwidth without the competition for licensing crowded RF spectrum.