The University of Western Australia’s ‘TeraNet’, a network of optical ground stations specialising in high-speed space communications, has successfully received laser signals from a German satellite in low Earth orbit.
The TeraNet team, led by Associate Professor Sascha Schediwy from the UWA node at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), received laser signals from OSIRISv1, a laser communication payload from the Institute of Communications and Navigation of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
OSIRISv1 is installed on the University of Stuttgart’s Flying Laptop satellite. Two TeraNet optical ground stations detected signals during the satellite’s flyby last Thursday.
This breakthrough paves the way for a 1,000-fold increase in communication bandwidth between space and Earth.
Establishing the next generation of space communications
“This demonstration is the critical first step in establishing a next-generation space communications network across Western Australia,” explained Associate Professor Schediwy.
The next steps include joining this network with other optical ground stations currently being developed in Australia and across the world.
The TeraNet ground stations use lasers, instead of traditional wireless radio signals, to transfer data between satellites in space and users on Earth.
Laser signals can potentially transfer data at thousands of gigabits per second, because they operate at much higher frequencies than radio, so much more data can be packed into every second.
As the number of satellites in space has grown, with each new satellite capable of generating more data, there is now a critical space bottleneck in getting data back to Earth.
Protecting laser signals from natural disasters
Laser communication is perfectly suited to solving this problem, but the downside is that laser signals can be interrupted by clouds and rain.
The TeraNet team is mitigating this downside by establishing a network of three ground stations spread across Western Australia.
This means that if it’s cloudy at one ground station site, the satellite can download its data to another site with clear skies.
In addition, one of the two TeraNet ground stations that received the satellite laser signal is built on the back of a custom-built Jeep truck.
This means it can be rapidly deployed to sites that need ultra-fast space communications, such as remote communities where traditional communications links have been cut off due to natural disasters.
High-speed laser communication from space will revolutionise data transfer for Earth observation satellites, significantly enhance and secure military communication networks, and bolster secure remote operations for sectors such as autonomous mining operations, as well as disaster planning and responses.
New optical ground stations will house laser-equipped satellites
The ICRAR-based TeraNet team received funding from the Australian Government, the Western Australian Government, and UWA in 2023 as part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission grant programme.
The $6.3m project supports the construction of the three TeraNet optical ground stations in Western Australia.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will provide in-kind access to its on-orbit satellites equipped with laser communications.
The network comprises a ground station at UWA, a second ground station at the Mingenew Space Precinct 300km north of Perth, and a mobile ground station that is being commissioned at the European Space Agency’s New Norcia facility.
