About the mission: PIXL-1
PIXL-1 is a joint CubeSat mission of the Institute of Communications and Navigation at the German Aerospace Center (DLR-IKN) and TESAT to test laser communications for CubeSats. Concisely, PIXL-1 is a technology demonstrator for the optical demonstration payload in the framework of the OSIRIS program. Within this project, the DLR-IKN and TESAT develop and manufacture in cooperation highly compact optical communication payloads for small spacecrafts. The commercialization of the optical payload will take place under the designation “CubeLCT”.
At its core, the PIXL-1 mission bases on a 3U cube satellite platform from GomSpace and will take and transfer high-resolution pictures via laser to the ground. For this, several ground stations are at hand worldwide to maintain best quality and highest response times.
More infos on the mission can be found on the website of our cooperation partner: Link
More info on the OSIRIS research programme, within which CubeLCT was developed, can be found here.
Mission Image
Optical Ground Stations
About the payload: CubeLCT
The CubeLCT answers the rising demand for low latency and high bandwidth for small spacecraft in a world of increasing data and decreasing frequency band disposability. It is the product of a longterm research cooperation between the Institute of Communications and Navigation of the German Aerospace Center (DLR-IKN) and TESAT, which has now come to full bloom bearing a ready-to-launch LCT for Small and especially for CubeSatellites.
Key parameters
- Data rate: 100 Mbps
- Range: LEO to ground
- Volume: 9 x 9.5 x 3.5 cm³ (~0.3U)
- Power consumption: 8 W
- Mass: 360 g
Datasheet
Product video
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