Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) System Description and Performance

Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) project is validating a first of its kind system to operate end-to-end links from Mars distances. Data-rates of 8.3– 267 Mb/s (return) and 1.8 kb/s (forward) from 0.36-2.68 astronomical units (AU) have been demonstrated. The 22-cm aperture diameter flight laser transceiver (FLT) transmitting 4 W of average 1550 nm laser power is integrated to NASA’s Psyche Mission spacecraft on its cruise to the asteroid Psyche-16. A 1064 nm multi-beam laser assembly integrated to the Optical Communications Telescope Laboratory (OCTL) at Table Mountain, CA, irradiates the FLT by transmitting up to 3 kW of optical power. Link acquisition, tracking and forward communications are enabled with the uplink signal. The 5m aperture diameter Hale telescope at Palomar Mountain functions as the primary ground receiver for the return link. In this paper link parameter measurements will be compared to allocations made during the design and implementation phase of the project.