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Completed TRL 5 (started at 3, targeting 5)
The project objective is the development of an optical communications receiver based on fiber optic photonic lanterns and silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that support differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) modulation at a 2.88 GHz clock rate. The
The photonic lantern in combination with a photonic integrated circuit will lower cost, and size/weight/power compared to current optical receiver technologies by reducing or eliminating the requirement for costly and bulky adaptive optics, and/or multiple telescope apertures. By using integrated photonics, the receiver can be made easily scalable for data rats in the Gbps to 10s of Gbps to support future goals of 5-10 Gbps data return from the Moon.
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This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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