Deep space communication with the ANU optical communications ground station

Abstract

The Australian Nation University (ANU) Quantum Optical Ground Station (QOGS) has been constructed in Canberra, Australia. Instrumentation is under development to enable lunar communications with QOGS. A receiver system and beacon transmitter will be installed on the telescope that is compatible with the Optical to Orion (O2O) terminal that will be onboard the Artemis II mission. Communication with spacecraft beyond the Moon is also possible by moving the receiver hardware to a larger telescope. The ANU operates Siding Spring Observatory where a 3.9 m or 2.3 m telescope could be used for deep space communications.