Citation
Abstract
The Galileo Optical Experiment (GOPEX) has demonstrated the first laser communications uplink to a deep space vehicle. This article describes the optical design and validation tests performed at the Table Mountain Facility (TMF) transmitter site. The system used a 0.6-m telescope and an optical system at coudé focus to produce the uplink beam. The optical system used a pulsed neodymium:yttriumaluminum-garnet (Nd:Yag) laser and beam diverger optics to produce the required optical output. In order to validate the optical design, a number of uplinks were performed on Earth-orbiting satellites (e.g., Lageos 1 and 2).
Details
- Volume
- 42-114
- Published
- August 15, 1993
- Pages
- 1–12
- File Size
- 522.5 KB