AgileBeam Reconfigurable Free Space Optical Communication System

Free Space Optical (FSO) communication systems provide many benefits for satellite communications, including high data rates and low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) compared to traditional RF communication systems. Additionally, FSO systems operate without RF emissions and are inherently immune to RF interference and jamming. The narrow optical beams and small Field-of-View of the optical receivers also make FSO systems LPI/LPD and difficult to disrupt by intentional jamming. Space-based FSO systems have been demonstrated, and are being considered for many upcoming commercial and military satellite systems. However, widespread adoption of space-based FSO systems has not occurred, partly due to the custom nature of most FSO systems. For each space-based application, a custom FSO system is typically developed. What is needed is a reconfigurable FSO terminal that can be used for a wide variety of missions, including operation in LEO, MEO and GEO orbits, and supporting both crosslink and up/down-link operation. To address this need, SA Photonics proposes the development of the AgileBeam space-based FSO system. AgileBeam is based on our CrossBeam FSO system and software-defined reconfigurability to enable the system to support a wide range of space-based applications.