An Optical NanoSat Detection and Ranging System (SADARS) Maurisa Orona Andrew Couch Ed Wilson

Goal of Mission  Create a satellite detection and ranging system (SADARS) for a fleet of nano satellites

Mission Objectives  Create an optical detection and communication system using LED’s and photo detectors  Develop a system of satellite identification and ranging employing video cameras

Nano Satellite Model

Communication and Detection  Serial Communications  Send out two bytes  First byte corresponds to identify the satellite  Second byte identifies which side of the satellite is being detected  Detectors  PIN Photo Diode Detectors  Video Camera

Computer Resources Intel NUC D54250WYK  Intel® Rapid Start Technology  4th generation Intel® Core™ i5-4250U processor  Intel® Quick Sync Video for fast video encoding  DisplayPort 1.2* for driving 4k displays.  Four USB 3.0 ports

Overview of Optical Communications  Optical communications using LED’s and diode lasers are employed in many situations.  Advantages  Difficult to intercept optical systems by unauthorized agents  Greater amount of information can be communicated that by traditional radio methods  Disadvantages  Difficult to align the transmitters and receivers  Fog, rain and aerosols cause degradation of the signal

Optical Communications Between Satellites  Advantages  In low earth orbit (LEO) problems with aerosols, rain and fog are minimal  Difficulties  Aligning the beams between moving satellites

Varied Approaches  Optical communication could be established using LEDs, diode lasers or other optical emitters  Diode Lasers  Produce more energy than LEDs but the beams are highly collimated and therefore difficult to be detected by the optical receivers  Other Optical Emitters  Other optical transmitters can be employed but generally require higher voltages and currents than LEDs and are still being considered  LEDs  Optical output is weaker than that of a diode laser, but they can be purchased to emit over a wider solid angle and are therefore easier to detect

LED Placements under Consideration Geometric Pattern Hemisphere

Satellite Ranging Study

Ranging Data  4 Meters  28 Meters

Acknowledgements  Arkansas Space Grant Consortium RID  Dr. Adam Huang, PI, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville  Dr. Yupo Chan, University of Arkansas at Little Rock