The new next-generation optical ground station in Chile is ready for operation thanks to the work of France’s Safran Space, Sweden’s SSC Space, and the European Space Agency (ESA). This optical ground station was developed by Safran Space under the NODES contract between SSC Space and ESA for the development of fast and secure satellite communications.
Details On The Next-Generation Optical Ground Station In Chile
This new optical ground station will be a part of the SSC Space optical ground network service. It will provide free-space laser communications and will be capable of bi-directional data transfer, enabling two-way links between satellites in space and ground optical stations.
This new optical ground station will support a ton of in-orbit missions as well as the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) standards. But what makes this new optical ground station stand out from other existing ground stations?
It provides faster and more secure optical links in comparison to traditional radio frequency (RF) communication systems in existence. This means that data is transmitted in this system using laser beams at speeds of 10 gigabits per second instead of being broadcast.
For its location, this new optical ground station is protected by the Andes foothills in Chile and sits on a 100-hectare site. The station relies on solar power, which is generated by a 624-panel solar array which generates up to 350-kilowatt hours of power.
Benefits Of This Next-Generation Optical Ground Station In Chile
There are a number of benefits that the next-generation optical ground station developed by Safran Space offers. Since it uses lasers (capable of transferring speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second) to transmit data instead of broadcasts, this new station can help out with time-sensitive applications.
Additionally, direct optical links are more difficult to intercept and interfere with, making data transferred through this station safer. There is also the issue of regulations, which optical communications aren’t bound by, giving operators freedom to use this station without the licensing that the RF spectrum requires.
The SSC Space next-generation optical ground station developed by Safran Space has passed a series of tests and is ready for use.