TeraNet Optical Ground Stations

Overview

TeraNet 1

TeraNet 1 is a 70cm optical ground station, installed in 2021, centred on a Planewave Instruments CDK700 telescope. Due to its convenient location right in the heart of the UWA Perth campus, it is the ideal optical ground station for initial deployment of new communications hardware and rapid prototyping and testing.

TeraNet 2 is a new 70cm optical ground station, based on a Planewave Instruments RC700 telescope. It is located within the Mingenew Space Precinct, 300km North of Perth, and one of the best sites for laser communications in the world. TN-2 is co-located with NASA’s MOBLAS-5 Satellite Laser Ranging Facility and a large number of private and national satellite communication facilities. The site experiences exceptionally low cloud cover throughout the year, is at the centre of a dedicated no-fly zone, and is connected to a redundant high-speed optical fibre network, making it the ideal ground station for robust and reliable optical communications operations.

TeraNet 3 is a fully mobile 43cm optical ground station capable of being rapidly deployed at night or day to provide a world-leading level of versatility for site diversification. To advance upon the versatility of existing mobile systems, TN-3 is comprised of a Planewave Instruments CDK17 telescope and an L-500 mount attached to the back of an unmodified Jeep Gladiator. Its operation does not require hydraulic jacks, levelling system, or external power source. It is a completely self-contained, low-cost system, primarily comprised of commercially available hardware. The system has been successfully demonstrated with a daylight setup time of less than 30 minutes.