Avo Photonics to Make Spaceborne Satellite Laser Beacons

Avo Photonics has been selected to develop and provide ongoing packaging services for a semiconductor laser illumination source for use on The Aerospace Corp.’s CubeSat miniaturized spaceborne satellites, the company announced Wednesday.

Avo Photonics, a Halva company, was required to produce a 10-W continuous-wave beam at a 795-nm wavelength within a few degrees of the CubeSat reference axis system. The high-power optical source operates at 30 percent efficiency and is designed to run over numerous illumination cycles. The laser’s optoelectronic performance was tested to ensure that all components were mission-ready, the company said.

Avo Photonics will provide packaging for a semiconductor laser illumination source for The Aerospace Corp. Courtesy of Avo Photonics.

High-function electro-optic space missions are being developed on a rapid schedule, from concept to implementation, using CubeSat hosts. Decreases in size and mass allow for lower launch cost while still enabling the use of components to achieve mission success. While larger satellites can take five to 10 years to design, build and fly, CubeSats can be completed and launched in as few as one to two years.

Aerospace, based in El Segundo, Calif., provides independent technical and scientific research, development and advisory services to national security space programs.

For more information, visit: www.avophotonics.com