Extra-Terrestrial Connections: Enabling Optical Mesh Networks In Orbit

By Adam Badeen and Jason Palidwar, IDEX Materials Science Solutions; Global Space & Defense

In addition to meeting the rigorous technical demands of optical intersatellite links (OISL), organizations operating in space must contend with impactful commercial and supply chain considerations. Key among the optical components that enable laser-based OISL and ground-to-satellite links are optical filters.

Optical filter implementation into orbital mesh networks must consider how price, performance, and delivery timeline can be optimized together to align with specific customer needs. Critically, satellite component specifications are limited by system design. Tradeoffs must be considered: when one spec is improved, another may suffer. Maximizing performance in one area may “design out” overall system capability.

With thousands of filters operating across multiple applications, including in space, Iridian Spectral Technologies can predict exactly how our filters will perform under any conditions. This space heritage is invaluable because it is often challenging to specify when a spec is “good enough.” Specifications that are too loose can lead to suboptimal system performance; overly tight specifications can lead to supply chain reliability issues and reduced operational performance.