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StatusOngoing
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Activity Code5G.042
The objectives of the project are to develop a compact, low-cost, DTE laser communications system capable of providing up to 10 Gbps to meet the increasing demand for secure, high-data rate communications systems. The project includes design and development of the necessary subsystems and assemblies, design documentation, manufacturing and verification.
The project objectives in the V1 phase are:
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To review product requirements in line with lessons learned
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To adapt the CUBECAT for serial production
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Improve the mechanical design to withstand the launch environment within a CubeCAT compatible formfactor
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Update electronics in line with updated requirements and with a DfX approach
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Update firmware in line with updated requirements
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Bring the product to market targeting commercial availability ahead of competitor products
The V2 phase project objectives are:
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Define requirements for an updated commercial product with improved performance
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Develop the preliminary design
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Develop the detailed design
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Produce a prototype of the V2 product
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Complete testing on the V2 product
The key challenges addressed within this project are:
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The development of a commercialised product, using lessons learned from heritage products and in-orbit testing to mature the design and ensure the product is designed to withstand anticipated launch vibration loads
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To deliver a commercially available product to market ahead of competitor products
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In line with the product roadmap, to design a terminal capable of increased data rates (up to 10 Gbps), delivering market leading SWaP in the laser communication domain
The CubeCAT competes with commercially available x-band radio systems. Market analysis demonstrates the CubeCAT V1 competes with the market leading x-band radio products in terms of Size, Weight and Power (SWaP).
CubeCAT V2 offers increased performance and is un-matched by existing products in the x-band market in terms of SWaP.
Relative to radio communication systems, which are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain a licence for, laser communication offers more secure communication as well as significantly higher data rates.
Compared to other known direct to earth laser communication terminals in development CubeCAT V1 and V2 also provide market leading performance.
The features of the CubeCAT terminals developed within the NGHT DTE project are:
For V1:
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Downlink speeds of up to 1 Gbps
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Uplink speeds of up to 200 kbps
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Over 150Gb of on-board storage
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Dimensions of 96 x 96 x 96 mm
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Mass less than 1.33 kg
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Temperature range -20°C to +40°C
For V2:
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Downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps
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Uplink speeds of more than 200 kbps
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Over 1.5 Tb of on-board storage
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Dimensions of 96 x 96 x 96 mm
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Mass less than 1.33 kg
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Temperature range -20°C to +40°C
The system to be developed in this project is a small form factor direct-to-earth laser communication terminal. The system can be broken into the following sub-assemblies: Control Electronics and Data Storage, Fine Pointing System, Optomechanical Assembly, Laser, Detector and Firmware.
Each of these subsystems plays a critical part in delivering the targeted 10Gbps downlink data rate. The fine pointing system is responsible for steering the laser beam and maintaining contact with the OGS while the control electronics are responsible for running the control algorithms required to achieve this. The optomechanical assembly is responsible for focusing the beacon beam on the uplink detector. It also needs to provide stable results over the temperature range.
In order to ensure the 10Gbps data rate can be achieved the data is stored onboard the terminal to circumvent any interface bottlenecks in the data path. The laser provides the photons needed to transmit the data and the firmware bonds all of the subsystem in to one system.
The project consists of two phases; the first phase delivers a commercialised CUBECAT V1 in 2025, with downlink speeds of up to 1Gbps. The second phase builds on the V1 product to deliver a further improved V2 terminal with downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps in 2026.
The project Kick Off was held on 7th June 2024. Some initial work has been started to review the product requirements and begin work to address lessons learned from in-orbit testing and to mature the design to facilitate series manufacture.
