Initial test results for NASA Goddard’s low-cost optical terminal adaptive optics system

We present the initial laboratory test results of the adaptive optics (AO) subassembly for the Low-Cost Optical Terminal (LCOT), a flexible communications ground terminal developed by Goddard Space Flight Center. LCOT will receive first light in 2023 testing. This terminal includes a 700mm commercial telescope, 1550nm receive instruments, and uplink transmit systems. Demodulating coherent formats requires AO to correct turbulence effects and allow coupling into single-mode fiber. General Atomics delivered the system to Goddard in September 2021, where engineers have evaluated performance. We describe laboratory testing, turbulence phase plate design, results, and AO field testing plans when installed on LCOT.