FOCUS: Free-space Optical Communications Unit for Satellites

Laser and optical communication terminals offer tremendous opportunity for high-speed (>1 Gbps), highly-secure, inter-satellite and satellite-to-ground global communications. Traditionally, high size weight and power (SWaP) requirements have created challenges in realising COTS products, as well as, the application of such devices in small satellites such as CubeSats. A academic-industry consortium led by Northumbria University have designed, built and tested a novel laser communications system called FOCUS, which addresses these challenges and provides a potentially viable solution the networking of mega constellations on small satellites. We present the design and performance specifications of FOCUS, the additional applications of the technology for precision alignment, energy harvesting and space science. We outline our plans for an in-orbit demonstration of the technology through the ALIGN (Autonomous Laser Intersatellite Gigabit Network) mission, funded to date by the UK Space Agency (UKSA), through the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP).