Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites

Yih Cherng Ethan Yen; Wen Hsin Chen; Bo Yan Chen; Bing Chiao He; Chien Yi Cheng; Chen Joe Fong; Hsin Chia Lin; Ching Wei Chen; Liang Tang Chen; Chen Tsung Lin; Huan Shen Chen; Chia Hao Chang; Yu Hsuan Lin; Chien Hsi Lin; Yen Fu Chen; Siang Cheng Zhu; Chuang Liang-Chieh; Chun Ting Lin

doi:10.1117/12.3042796

Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites

Yih Cherng Ethan Yen^*, Wen Hsin Chen, Bo Yan Chen, Bing Chiao He, Chien Yi Cheng, Chen Joe Fong, Hsin Chia Lin, Ching Wei Chen, Liang Tang Chen, Chen Tsung Lin, Huan Shen Chen, Chia Hao Chang, Yu Hsuan Lin, Chien Hsi Lin, Yen Fu Chen, Siang Cheng Zhu, Chuang Liang-Chieh, Chun Ting Lin

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute of Communications Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

As the LEO satellite industry rapidly expands, the demand for remote sensing and telecommunications in marine and suburban areas is increasing. Developing higher bandwidth communication interfaces has become a crucial focus in the space industry. Free space optical (FSO) communication offers bandwidths hundreds of times greater than traditional microwave links, enabling the efficient transmission of large volumes of data. However, current commercial satellite tracking systems lack the high precision needed for space-ground laser communication. For high-speed data transmission, the laser beams between the ground station and the satellite must be precisely aligned. In this Taiwan Space Agency's (TASA) project, we were originally designed optical ground station to communicate with HICALI (High-speed Advanced Optical Communication Equipment) onboard the Engineering Test Satellite No. 9. This project is changed to specifically communicate with future High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites including 6U CubeSat(s) built by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). The system consists of a medium-sized telescope, a mount, and a newly developed high-precision controller, which meets the accuracy requirements for FSO communication. By analyzing optical images of targets, we achieve the necessary tracking accuracy for satellite-ground FSO communication. This systemnot only enhances the transmission efficiency in space-ground laser communications but also improves the remote sensing and data transmission capabilities of LEO satellites.This paperprovides an overview of the current optical ground station,the systemperformance and lessons learned.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Earth Observing Missions and Sensors
Subtitle of host publication	Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI
Editors	Xiaoxiong Xiong, Toshiyoshi Kimura, Po-Hsuan Huang
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510682764
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3042796
State	Published - 2025
Event	Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI 2024 - Kaohsiung, Taiwan Duration: 2 Dec 2024 → 4 Dec 2024

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	13267
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI 2024
Country/Territory	Taiwan
City	Kaohsiung
Period	2/12/24 → 4/12/24

Keywords

CubeSat
Free space optical (FSO)
Laser Communications Satellites
Low-Earth Orbit (LEO)
OGS Shelter
Optical Ground Station (OGS)
Remote Sensing
Satellite Tracking

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10.1117/12.3042796

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Yen, Y. C. E., Chen, W. H., Chen, B. Y., He, B. C., Cheng, C. Y., Fong, C. J., Lin, H. C., Chen, C. W., Chen, L. T., Lin, C. T., Chen, H. S., Chang, C. H., Lin, Y. H., Lin, C. H., Chen, Y. F., Zhu, S. C., Liang-Chieh, C., & Lin, C. T. (2025). Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites. In X. Xiong, T. Kimura, & P.-H. Huang (Eds.), Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI Article 132670T (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13267). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3042796

Yen, Yih Cherng Ethan ; Chen, Wen Hsin ; Chen, Bo Yan et al. / Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites. Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI. editor / Xiaoxiong Xiong ; Toshiyoshi Kimura ; Po-Hsuan Huang. SPIE, 2025. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering).

@inproceedings{a04dfca8cab44cceb53f24f96694d985,

title = "Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites",

abstract = "As the LEO satellite industry rapidly expands, the demand for remote sensing and telecommunications in marine and suburban areas is increasing. Developing higher bandwidth communication interfaces has become a crucial focus in the space industry. Free space optical (FSO) communication offers bandwidths hundreds of times greater than traditional microwave links, enabling the efficient transmission of large volumes of data. However, current commercial satellite tracking systems lack the high precision needed for space-ground laser communication. For high-speed data transmission, the laser beams between the ground station and the satellite must be precisely aligned. In this Taiwan Space Agency's (TASA) project, we were originally designed optical ground station to communicate with HICALI (High-speed Advanced Optical Communication Equipment) onboard the Engineering Test Satellite No. 9. This project is changed to specifically communicate with future High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites including 6U CubeSat(s) built by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). The system consists of a medium-sized telescope, a mount, and a newly developed high-precision controller, which meets the accuracy requirements for FSO communication. By analyzing optical images of targets, we achieve the necessary tracking accuracy for satellite-ground FSO communication. This systemnot only enhances the transmission efficiency in space-ground laser communications but also improves the remote sensing and data transmission capabilities of LEO satellites.This paperprovides an overview of the current optical ground station,the systemperformance and lessons learned.",

keywords = "CubeSat, Free space optical (FSO), Laser Communications Satellites, Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), OGS Shelter, Optical Ground Station (OGS), Remote Sensing, Satellite Tracking",

author = "Yen, {Yih Cherng Ethan} and Chen, {Wen Hsin} and Chen, {Bo Yan} and He, {Bing Chiao} and Cheng, {Chien Yi} and Fong, {Chen Joe} and Lin, {Hsin Chia} and Chen, {Ching Wei} and Chen, {Liang Tang} and Lin, {Chen Tsung} and Chen, {Huan Shen} and Chang, {Chia Hao} and Lin, {Yu Hsuan} and Lin, {Chien Hsi} and Chen, {Yen Fu} and Zhu, {Siang Cheng} and Chuang Liang-Chieh and Lin, {Chun Ting}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 SPIE.; Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI 2024 ; Conference date: 02-12-2024 Through 04-12-2024",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1117/12.3042796",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Xiaoxiong Xiong and Toshiyoshi Kimura and Po-Hsuan Huang",

booktitle = "Earth Observing Missions and Sensors",

address = "美國",

}

Yen, YCE, Chen, WH, Chen, BY, He, BC, Cheng, CY, Fong, CJ, Lin, HC, Chen, CW, Chen, LT, Lin, CT, Chen, HS, Chang, CH, Lin, YH, Lin, CH, Chen, YF, Zhu, SC, Liang-Chieh, C & Lin, CT 2025, Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites. in X Xiong, T Kimura & P-H Huang (eds), Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI., 132670T, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 13267, SPIE, Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI 2024, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2/12/24. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3042796

Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites. / Yen, Yih Cherng Ethan; Chen, Wen Hsin; Chen, Bo Yan et al.
Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI. ed. / Xiaoxiong Xiong; Toshiyoshi Kimura; Po-Hsuan Huang. SPIE, 2025. 132670T (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13267).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

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AU - Yen, Yih Cherng Ethan

AU - Chen, Wen Hsin

AU - Chen, Bo Yan

AU - He, Bing Chiao

AU - Cheng, Chien Yi

AU - Fong, Chen Joe

AU - Lin, Hsin Chia

AU - Chen, Ching Wei

AU - Chen, Liang Tang

AU - Lin, Chen Tsung

AU - Chen, Huan Shen

AU - Chang, Chia Hao

AU - Lin, Yu Hsuan

AU - Lin, Chien Hsi

AU - Chen, Yen Fu

AU - Zhu, Siang Cheng

AU - Liang-Chieh, Chuang

AU - Lin, Chun Ting

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - As the LEO satellite industry rapidly expands, the demand for remote sensing and telecommunications in marine and suburban areas is increasing. Developing higher bandwidth communication interfaces has become a crucial focus in the space industry. Free space optical (FSO) communication offers bandwidths hundreds of times greater than traditional microwave links, enabling the efficient transmission of large volumes of data. However, current commercial satellite tracking systems lack the high precision needed for space-ground laser communication. For high-speed data transmission, the laser beams between the ground station and the satellite must be precisely aligned. In this Taiwan Space Agency's (TASA) project, we were originally designed optical ground station to communicate with HICALI (High-speed Advanced Optical Communication Equipment) onboard the Engineering Test Satellite No. 9. This project is changed to specifically communicate with future High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites including 6U CubeSat(s) built by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). The system consists of a medium-sized telescope, a mount, and a newly developed high-precision controller, which meets the accuracy requirements for FSO communication. By analyzing optical images of targets, we achieve the necessary tracking accuracy for satellite-ground FSO communication. This systemnot only enhances the transmission efficiency in space-ground laser communications but also improves the remote sensing and data transmission capabilities of LEO satellites.This paperprovides an overview of the current optical ground station,the systemperformance and lessons learned.

AB - As the LEO satellite industry rapidly expands, the demand for remote sensing and telecommunications in marine and suburban areas is increasing. Developing higher bandwidth communication interfaces has become a crucial focus in the space industry. Free space optical (FSO) communication offers bandwidths hundreds of times greater than traditional microwave links, enabling the efficient transmission of large volumes of data. However, current commercial satellite tracking systems lack the high precision needed for space-ground laser communication. For high-speed data transmission, the laser beams between the ground station and the satellite must be precisely aligned. In this Taiwan Space Agency's (TASA) project, we were originally designed optical ground station to communicate with HICALI (High-speed Advanced Optical Communication Equipment) onboard the Engineering Test Satellite No. 9. This project is changed to specifically communicate with future High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites including 6U CubeSat(s) built by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). The system consists of a medium-sized telescope, a mount, and a newly developed high-precision controller, which meets the accuracy requirements for FSO communication. By analyzing optical images of targets, we achieve the necessary tracking accuracy for satellite-ground FSO communication. This systemnot only enhances the transmission efficiency in space-ground laser communications but also improves the remote sensing and data transmission capabilities of LEO satellites.This paperprovides an overview of the current optical ground station,the systemperformance and lessons learned.

KW - CubeSat

KW - Free space optical (FSO)

KW - Laser Communications Satellites

KW - Low-Earth Orbit (LEO)

KW - OGS Shelter

KW - Optical Ground Station (OGS)

KW - Remote Sensing

KW - Satellite Tracking

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U2 - 10.1117/12.3042796

DO - 10.1117/12.3042796

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85216260918

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - Earth Observing Missions and Sensors

A2 - Xiong, Xiaoxiong

A2 - Kimura, Toshiyoshi

A2 - Huang, Po-Hsuan

PB - SPIE

T2 - Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI 2024

Y2 - 2 December 2024 through 4 December 2024

ER -

Yen YCE, Chen WH, Chen BY, He BC, Cheng CY, Fong CJ et al. Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites. In Xiong X, Kimura T, Huang PH, editors, Earth Observing Missions and Sensors: Development, Implementation, and Characterization VI. SPIE. 2025. 132670T. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.3042796

Optical Ground Station for Applications of High-Precision LEO Remote Sensing and Laser Communications Satellites

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