A WORLD FIRST IN SPACE: Laser links geostationary satellite to an aircraft

Acting on behalf of the DGA (French MoD procurement agency), last December EADS Astrium in Toulouse set up six two-way optical links between a Mystére 20 aircraft operating from the DGA Istres Flight Test Centre and the Artemis geostationary satellite. The tests were part of the DGA Liaison Optique Laser Aéroportée (airborne laser optical link or LOLA) basic study. The airborne laser links were established over a distance of 40,000 km during two flights at altitudes of 6,000 and 10,000 m.

Link lock-on happened in less than 1 sec (including the outward and inward optical path), and pointing accuracy was about 0.5 rad. The highest laser data rate between aircraft and satellite so far has been 50 Mbps. Consumption of the optical terminals is 100 W and is over 15 times more efficient than what's possible in the microwave domain using optical terminals on board a UAV. Another plus: The optical beam is totally discrete and extremely difficult to jam. This is a big advantage for military use.

Space Exploration 2007

March 25 to 28 — The Second International Conference and Exposition on Science, Engineering, and Habitation in Space will take place at the Marriott Pyramid North in Albuquerque. The event will feature topical discussions in areas of interest to the exploration and habitation of space, including alternative methods of access to space. The second Biennial Space Elevator Workshop will be held in conjunction with the conference. The Aerospace Div. of the American Society of Civil Engineers cosponsors the event. Visit sesinstitute.org.

Space Elevator: 2010

Competitors in the upcoming 2007 NASA Beam Power Challenge portion of the Elevator: 2010 Competition will find the difficulty of their task has increased dramatically. Beam-powered robotic climbers must scale a 120-m (393-ft) long vertical ribbon at a minimum average speed of 2 m/sec (6.6 fps). Teams provide their own beam power sources. The winner will be the team that can carry the greatest payload and complete the trip in the fastest time (score = payload speed/ net weight). For more information visit elevator2010.organd centennialchallenges.nasa.gov.