The European Space Agency's geostationary Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite (Artemis) has successfully relayed an optical laser link from a Dassault Mystère 20 at altitudes of up to 32,700ft (9,970m).
The laser relay is being developed because optical technology can provide high data transmission rates using low mass, low power terminals, combined with secure, interference-free communications. Laser links between the Artemis and Mystère 20 were established over a distance of 40,000km (24,850 miles) during two flights in December.
The Mystère 20 was equipped with EADS Astrium's Liaison Optique Laser Aéroportée (Lola) airborne laser optical link system, while Artemis used its semiconductor laser inter-satellite link experiment (Silex) payload. Six two-way optical links between Lola and Silex were completed during the test flights.
Lola and Silex supplier Astrium conducted the tests from Istres in France, as part of the French ministry of defence's DGA procurement agency's airborne laser optical link programme. Artemis was managed during the tests by the ESA ground station at Redu, Belgium. Using Silex, Artemis has also linked to another satellite, French Earth Observation spacecraft SPOT-4, using lasers.
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Artemis links with SPOT-4 laser |
Source: Flight International