TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD): a demonstration of large-volume direct-to-Earth data transfer from low-Earth orbit
Abstract
Delivery of large volumes of data from low-Earth orbit to ground is challenging due to the short link durations associated with direct-to-Earth links. The short ranges that are typical for such links enable high data rates with small terminals. While the data rate for radio-frequency links is typically limited by available spectrum, optical links do not have such limitations. However, to date, demonstrations of optical links from low-Earth orbit to ground have been limited to 10 to 1000 Mbps. We describe plans for NASA's TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) system, which will demonstrate a direct-to-Earth optical communication link from a CubeSat in low-Earth orbit at burst rates up to 200 Gbps. Such a link is capable of delivering >50 Terabytes per day from a small spacecraft to a single small ground terminal.
- Publication:
-
Free-Space Laser Communication and Atmospheric Propagation XXX
- Pub Date:
- February 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.2295023
- Bibcode:
- 2018SPIE10524E..0VR