Onera’s optical ground station for Geo Feeder links FEELINGS: in lab testing and on sky implementation

In the quest to establish efficient high-throughput communication links between ground-based facilities and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, referred to as GEO-feeder links (GEO-FL), researchers are exploring optical technologies as a promising solution. The success of GEO-FL largely hinges on mitigating signal degradation caused by atmospheric turbulence. Adaptive optics (AO)-based pre-compensation has emerged as a game-changing approach, offering the potential to ensure consistent link budgets. However, this endeavor presents several challenges, including the need for precise calibration, turbulence mitigation through AO, addressing anisoplanatism, and integrating high-power sources compatible with Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and very high data rate modulation within a shared optical path. ONERA is at the forefront of tackling these challenges with its research-oriented optical ground station, FEELINGS (FEEder LINks optical Ground Station). FEELINGS aims to pioneer innovative concepts, components, algorithms, and thus to pave the way for future operational, high capacity and high efficiency OGS systems. Here, we provide insights into in-laboratory results and performance assessments, shedding light on the system’s development challenges and initial high-power laser performance tests, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress. Additionally, the paper offers glimpses of the on-site implementation.