VERTIGO transmits telecommunications data over the laser link at record high power

Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) joint venture Thales Alenia Space and its partners are pleased to announce that the VERTIGO project has come to an end with the successful demonstration of the high power optical data transmission system at Thales Laboratories in Paraiso, France.

This is a key success in the future development of geostationary communications satellites using fiber feeder links to significantly increase the current available capacity. These solutions will play a key role in bridging the digital divide and bringing broadband connectivity to all by 2025. The goal is also to increase satellite capacity to reduce the number of satellites needed to meet user demand.

In this framework, Thales Alenia Space, Thales, G&H and Leo Space Photonics R&D demonstrated the generation and transmission of optical communication signals that transmit data at 25 Gbps at a record breaking optical power of 97 W in a controlled environment, Road transmission opened up for the 100 W class. This is achieved by dividing the modulating optical signal into two paths, each amplified by a separate state-of-the-art G&H high power amplifier, which then coherently combines the two amplifier outputs. This is not only an opportunity to demonstrate high-light power and very high-light power generation, but also to demonstrate the possibility of transmitting telecommunication signals at very high power while maintaining data integrity, which is necessary for use in long-distance free space optical links.

Following the outdoor trials of the Free Space Light Link in the summer of 2022 (specifically transmitted at 1 Tbps over the 53 km atmospheric light path), laboratory testing activities at the Thales facility concluded the VERTIGO project with a new record.

Using the VERTIGO project results, the next step will be to target a fully coherent laser link between the geostationary satellite and the ground station at an altitude of about 36.000 km.

Next generation satellite systems will play a key role in bridging the digital divide and bringing broadband connectivity to all by 2025. In this context, optical feeder links are considered to be a very promising technology to meet the requirements of future VHTS systems. VERTIGO aims to pave the way for ultra-high throughput satellite systems and contribute to maintaining EU technological leadership and industry competitiveness.

About the H2020 VERTIGO project

VERTIGO (Ultra High Throughput Star/Earth Optical Link) is an H2020 collaborative project launched on June 1, 2019 and completed in early 2023, demonstrating concept-art optical technology that allows for a significant increase in feeder link capacity through the use of the latest technology. Thanks to a fully complementary consortium of CREONIC GmbH and ETH, VERTIGO addresses the key supporting technologies for implementing high throughput optical links (highlight power generation, efficient waveforms, atmospheric damage mitigation), It was evaluated in in-ground indoor and outdoor demonstrations Zurich, Fraunhofer HHI, G&H, LEO Space Photonics R&D, ONERA, Thales Alenia Space in France and Switzerland, and Thales Research & Technology.

The project received funding from the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 822030.

About THALES ALENIA SPACE

With more than 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and culture, Thales Alenia Space offers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructure. Both governments and private industry rely on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that can provide connectivity and location, monitor our planet, enhance resource management and explore our solar system and beyond, anytime, anywhere. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon to help build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. As a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also partners with Telespazio to form the parent company's Space Alliance, which provides a full range of services.

Source: Laser Net