Tiny Norwegian cubesat talks to Earth using lasers for the first time
A Norwegian microsatellite has made a major space communication breakthrough by establishing its first satellite-to-ground optical communications link.
Developed by the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) for the Norwegian Space Agency (NSA), the NorSat-TD microsatellite marks a significant milestone for the satellite’s designers and operators, putting them into an exclusive club of organizations who’ve managed a similar feat.
Microsats with lasers
Optical communications use laser technology and can transmit larger data sets faster with better security than traditional radio frequency communications. This technology is especially important for low Earth orbit (LEO) applications such as Earth observation, telecommunications, atmospheric monitoring, maritime ship tracking, and space astronomy, where reliable data transmission is critical.
“The successful demonstration of satellite-to-ground communication by the 35-kg NorSat-TD microsatellite greatly expands the utility of affordable smaller satellites that are more cost-effective than traditional spacecraft to develop, launch, and operate,” Dr. Robert E. Zee, Director of SFL, highlighted the explained.
The NorSat Technology Demonstrator (NorSat-TD) was designed to demonstrate new technologies for NSA and the European Space Agency (ESA). It was jointly developed by the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) of the University of Toronto’s Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) in Canada in collaboration with the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA).
The primary mission of the microsatellite, the ESA explains, will be to test and validate new payloads and concepts from Norway, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. It was launched into low-Earth orbit in April of last year and has an anticipated expiry date of around April 2027.
The NorSat-TD microsatellite utilizes two crucial technologies for optical communications. The first technology is precise attitude control, a challenging task for low-mass spacecraft. This control mechanism facilitates the microsatellite aligning accurately and continuously with a ground station during its rapid orbit. The NorSat-TD incorporates innovative small satellite stability and pointing capabilities, a testament to SFL’s expertise honed across dozens of missions.
The onboard Small Communication Active Terminal (SmallCAT) laser communication system is the second essential component. This system was developed by a consortium led by TNO (The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research). It comprises a high-quality laser terminal and a fine steering mirror, which is necessary to lock the narrow optical beam precisely onto a ground station beacon.
“The quality of the pointing performance of SFL’s DEFIANT bus speaks for itself. NOSA is also pleased with the flexibility and problem solving that SFL demonstrated while accommodating the SmallCAT terminal in the NorSat-TD design and working through payload evolutions with TNO,” explained NOSA Senior Advisor Tyler Jones.
NorSat-TD, Space Daily reports, is the sixth mission developed by SFL for Norway, launched in April 2023. The main purpose of this microsatellite is to track maritime ships. However, it also carried experimental payloads for enhanced GPS positioning, spacecraft tracking by laser, and iodine-fueled propulsion, in addition to the SmallCAT terminal. SFL plans to launch NorSat-4 in 2024, featuring a novel low-light imaging sensor to advance satellite technology further.
One door closes, another opens
This successful demonstration by NorSat-TD indicates a significant advancement in microsatellite capabilities and opens doors to more efficient and secure satellite communication methods. This is essential for the ever-expanding scope of space-based applications.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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Tiny Norwegian cubesat talks to Earth using lasers for the first time