Aerospace

Our Aerospace Capability

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Te Whai Ao — Dodd-Walls Centre has strengths in free spaceoptical communications, quantum memories for space-based quantum networks,space situational awareness and space-ready radiometers for detectinghigh-frequency microwave radiation and tracking atmospheric gases. Ouracademics are instigators of space exploration, with developing expertise inpayload and mission design. We work from the Taiaho Observatory at theUniversity of Auckland Ardmore Field Station. We’re excited to be collaboratingwith the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and we are actively seeking furtherresearch collaboration opportunities.

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Our Aerospace Projects

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Free Space Optical Communications (FSOC)

‍Nicholas Rattenbury‍

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We are developing technologies to improve communicationsbetween spacecraft and Earth. The growing number of space missions andincreasingly high-resolution of observation images is putting pressure on theradio frequency spectrum used for communications. Space missions are limited byhow much data they can send. We have created a laser-based method oftransmission relying on eveloping a free-space optical communication
node as part of a network of optical telescopes across Australasia. We willinstall, test and operate an instrument to demonstrate space-ground free-spaceoptical communications.

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An international collaboration with FSOC researchers at theUniversity of Western Australia, the University of South Australia and theAustralian National University.

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Space Situational Awareness‍‍

Nicholas Rattenbury

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We’re improving New Zealand’s space situationalawareness (SSA) capability, using an optical telescope. SSA refers to thelocation, trajectory, and status of natural and artificial objects in Earth’sorbit. This is crucial for maintaining the safety of satellites and spacecraft,in an environment increasingly cluttered with debris. SSA helps track objectsin orbit, predict their future positions, and advise on collision avoidancemanoeuvres. The
most accurate understanding of space debris and satellite activity comes from areal-time analysis of optical observations, made using a telescope.

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An international collaboration with SSA research experts atthe University of Warwick.

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Space-Ready Radiometers‍‍

Harald Schwefel, Mallika Suresh, Nicholas Rattenbury, Annika Seppälä

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We’re investigating a scheme to detect high-frequencymicrowave radiation and thermal microwave radiation using nonlinear optics.This involves identifying materials that work in both spectral domains. Such aphotonic radiometer would target GHz/THz frequencies for tracking atmosphericgases like ozone. We have a laboratory-scale photonic radiometer to demonstratemeasurement of thermal (GHz-THz) radiation using nonlinear optics in a formsuitable for a CubeSat payload. We develop algorithms for extracting relevantatmospheric data from the microwave spectrum.

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An international collaboration with Luis Enrique Muñoz UC3MSpain and Dmitry Strekalov JPL NASA.

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Quantum Memories for Space-based Communications

Jevon Longdell

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Quantum memories store and recall light in a way thatpreserves its precise quantum state. These are being developed for use inspace-based quantum networks. The networks will allow the distribution ofentangled light over large distances. In space communications, the memorieswill play a key role in the quantum repeaters needed to counteract loss. A teamis exploring the use of two rare earth elements: erbium, and europium tointerface with light in optical fibre networks and to provide long term signalstorage, respectively.

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An international collaboration with the German AerospaceCentre (DLR) and the Australian National University.

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