Accelerometer-assisted tracking and pointing for deep space optical communications

Author

Lee, Shinhak ; Ortiz, Gerry G. ; Alexander, James W. ; Portillo, Angel ; Jeppesen, Christian

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

3

fYear

2001

fDate

2001

Abstract

NASA/JPL has been developing acquisition, tracking and pointing (ATP) technologies for deep space tracking and pointing of an optical communication beam using linear accelerometers to enhance pointing. Linear accelerometers provide excellent accuracy in sensing the vehicle´s acceleration with the advantage of small size, low power, low cost, and a broad range of well developed products. We present the concept of accelerometer-assisted tracking, error analysis, and progress made on its implementation

Keywords

accelerometers; digital control; optical links; pointing systems; space communication links; telecommunication control; accelerometer-assisted pointing; accelerometer-assisted tracking; deep space optical communications; deep space tracking; digital control; error analysis; free-space optical communication link; line of sight problem; linear accelerometers; low cost; low power; optical communication beam; small size; Accelerometers; Cameras; Moon; Optical fiber communication; Optical receivers; Optical sensors; Space technology; Space vehicles; Tracking; Vibration measurement;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace Conference, 2001, IEEE Proceedings.

Conference_Location

Big Sky, MT

Print_ISBN

0-7803-6599-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AERO.2001.931387

Filename

931387