GEO-LEO beaconless spatial acquisition reality in space

Starting October 2014 and continuing through the present Tesat Spacecom has been conducting successfully GEO-LEO optical inter-satellite communication links utilizing a laser communication terminal (LCT) built by Tesat-Spacecom funded by DLR and ESA. The beaconless spatial acquisition algorithm, which works flawless since 2007 in the LEO-LEO system of Tesat Spacecom, was further improved to account for increased distance and reliability requirements. Details of beaconless spatial acquisition algorithm can be found in [1] We present the results of in orbit beaconless spatial acquisitions. Statistics of success rate, spatial acquisition duration and open loop mispointing is presented as well as telemetry data of two spatial acquisitions.