繁体中文

Dutch satellite instruments have achieved milestone achievements in transmitting laser data to Earth

477
2024-01-25 10:45:47
查看翻譯

TNO wrote that this is the first time Dutch technology has been used to send data from a satellite to a ground station press release on Earth. This technology uses invisible laser signals to achieve faster and safer data flow compared to ubiquitous communication radio frequencies.

Kees Buijsrogge, Director of TNO Space, said, "This critical milestone marks a significant achievement for the Netherlands and Europe in advancing technological sovereignty within a strong NATO, as it will achieve faster and safer broadband connectivity. This is a temporary result of the emerging Dutch industry's collaborative efforts dedicated to optical satellite communication.".

Almost all connections in daily life, such as Wi Fi, Bluetooth, or 5G, are based on radio frequency waves. Due to the increase in data consumption, this radio spectrum is slowly filling up, causing scarcity and interference. Laser satellite communication provides a solution as it can send data faster and safer through invisible laser signals. The radio frequency can reach speeds of several hundred megabits, and in some cases can reach several thousand megabits per second.

The speed of laser communication has increased by 100 to 1000 times. Even at lower speeds, laser communication links are interesting because the system is smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient, which is crucial for space applications. It is also safer because it uses a very narrow optical laser beam instead of a wide radio signal. This makes eavesdropping more difficult and interference can be quickly detected.

The laser communication system SmallCAT was launched by SpaceX on a satellite operated by the Norwegian Space Agency in April 2023. Since then, TNO has been preparing to establish a connection between satellites flying in low Earth orbit and optical ground stations in The Hague and Tenerife Island. In such an experiment, the ground station first sends a signal to the satellite, and the laser communication system on the satellite must find the signal through its overpass. Then, it sends the laser back to the Earth that the ground station needs to capture. This is very challenging as the satellite flies at a speed of 28000 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 500 kilometers.

In several experiments, TNO successfully found two ground stations from space and sent back and recaptured the laser beam with extremely high accuracy. Once the link is established, data is transmitted from satellite instruments and received by the optical ground station in The Hague at a maximum data rate of 1 gigabit per second. The ground station of TNO in The Hague was jointly developed by TNO and Airbus Netherlands. This is the first time such a compact satellite instrument made in the Netherlands has achieved this. It indicates that the terminals on the satellite and the ground station are working, and they can also be found under real conditions.

Source: Laser Net

相關推薦
  • Electron beam welding process for thick steel plate of turbine at Aachen Institute of Technology in Germany

    Researchers from the Welding Research Institute of Aachen University of Technology in Germany reported on the development of a stable welding process for electron beam welding of thick plates used in the construction of offshore wind turbines. The relevant research results were published in Materials Science and Engineering Technology under the title "Development of a robust welding process for el...

    2024-07-09
    查看翻譯
  • More penetrating than X-rays μ Meson imaging is expected to be advanced with high-power lasers

    μ Mesons are naturally occurring subatomic particles that can penetrate much deeper dense matter than X-rays. Therefore, μ Meson imaging can enable scientists to capture images of nuclear reactors, volcanoes, tsunamis, and hurricanes. However, this process is slow, as it occurs naturally μ The low flux of mesons requires several months of exposure time for the image.It is understood that ...

    2023-11-01
    查看翻譯
  • Munich Laser World of Photonics 2025 Grand Opening

    On June 24-27, 2025, the global optoelectronic event Laser World of Photonics 2025 was grandly opened in Munich, Germany. This exhibition brings together over 1350 companies from 43 countries, making it the largest in history. Among them, international laser giants Coherent, IPG, TRUMPF, and MKS showcased their latest breakthroughs and future directions in laser technology with multiple heavyweigh...

    06-25
    查看翻譯
  • Shandong Zhancheng Intelligent Manufacturing Laser Cutting Equipment is Popular Overseas

    The high-end laser cutting machine developed and produced by Dongying Lijin Zhancheng Laser Intelligent Manufacturing Company has become popular in overseas markets this spring. This equipment can not only use laser to quickly cut steel, but also freely swing on steel, "showing" beautiful pictures. The laser travels like a paintbrush flying, and the hard steel plate has been hollowed out into be...

    03-21
    查看翻譯
  • NUBURU Announces Second Next Generation Blue Laser Space Technology Contract with NASA

    NUBURU, the leading innovator of high-power and high brightness industrial blue laser technology, announced today that it has been awarded a second phase contract worth $850000 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to advance blue laser power transmission technology as a unique solution that significantly reduces the size and weight of equipment required for lunar and Martian...

    2024-05-13
    查看翻譯