Citation
Abstract
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has built the Optical Communications Telescope Laboratory (OCTL) atop Table Mountain in Southern California to serve as a research and development antenna, where communication strategies for future optical ground stations will be developed. Initial experiments to be conducted include propagating high-powered, Q-switched laser beams to retro-reflecting satellites. Laser beam propagation to space from the U.S. is under the cognizance of various government agencies, namely, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for protecting pilots and aircraft, and the Laser Clearinghouse of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), responsible for protecting space assets. To ensure that laser beam propagation from the OCTL complies with the guidelines of these organizations, JPL has developed a multi-tiered safety system that will meet the coordination, monitoring, and reporting functions required by the agencies. Descriptions of each tier are presented, along with the design of the integrated monitoring and beam transmission control system.
Keywords
Details
- Volume
- 42-156
- Published
- February 15, 2004
- Pages
- 1–9
- File Size
- 218.0 KB