BlueHalo provides a full suite of exquisite, space-qualified systems and sub-systems deployed across LEO, MEO and GEO satellites for end-to-end Laser Communications, Satellite Communications, and key specialized Class A National Systems.
BlueHalo offers space optical communications solutions and products for national security, civil space, and commercial markets. Our offerings provide high-bandwidth, high-security solutions that overcome spectrum allocation issues and provide 100 to 1,000X increased bandwidth over RF communications systems.
BlueHalo’s key technologies include advanced platform stabilization subsystems, innovative tracking and pointing subsystems, real-time controls algorithms and firmware, compact, athermal optical designs, and unique isolation subsystems. BlueHalo also delivers multi-band, multi-mission antenna systems that enable effects for Telemetry and Satellite Communications (SATCOM) as well as Attitude Determination and Control (ADC), Command and Data-Handling, and encryption and RF space-qualified products.
BlueHalo’s space-qualified stable platforms leverage a long heritage of Optical Inertial Reference Unit (OIRU) technology advances and multiple U.S. patents, and utilize our space-qualified Angular Rate Sensors (ARSs) and Actuators. We have delivered 16 space-qualified GEO laser communications stable platform units to a government customer and two space-qualified stable platforms to NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) program.
LCXL is a compact, dual aperture, laser communications system comprised of multiple subsystems (Gimbal, Modem, Back-end Optical Assemblies (BOA), etc.) that can be packaged into a single terminal or distributed across the host bus as needed. This system acts as a data pipeline communications and telemetry information provided by the host system. BlueHalo’s LCXL integrates advanced line-of-sight stabilization and tracking and pointing technologies with space-qualified laser and detector technologies into a compact package. The laser communications system also provides precise timing and positional information for distribution across a satellite constellation. Our advanced two-way time transfer (TWTT) technologies integrated with our Laser Communications Terminals, can provide the precise timing information necessary in a GPS-denied environment.
BlueHalo has developed a CubeSat Laser Communications system to enable low-probability-of-intercept/low-probability-of-detection (LPI/LPD) data transfers to and from deployed assets in areas where radio frequency (RF) communications may be undesired or denied. This system adapted high photon efficiency optical communications techniques to achieve data transfer rates up to 100 mega-bits per second (Mbps) with the small apertures required for CubeSats. The system uses commercially available components along with precision pointing mechanisms and electronics developed by BlueHalo for commercial space applications, resulting in a reliable, low-cost system that can be rapidly demonstrated and deployed.
Additional solutions in BlueHalo’s Laser Communications portfolio include space-qualified Latch and Gimbal Assemblies (LGAs) and an advanced Optical Isolation System for NASA’s LEMNOS program, GEO-to-ground laser communications optical modules, and space-qualified high bandwidth Fast Steering Mirrors (FSMs) and electronics, and Angular Rate Sensors (ARS) and multi-axis ARS Dynapak.
BlueHalo offers space range planning, scheduling, and execution tools such as StarGate, a planning and scheduling software that manages range operations at the US Space Command’s eastern and western space ranges. StarGate offers end-to-end support, from planning a space launch to its completion, and is currently deployed at the 45th Space Wing. At the heart of StarGate are BlueHalo’s scheduling and planning algorithms, which execute in CybelePro, BlueHalo’s agent infrastructure.
BlueHalo develops and manufactures superior space electronics and computing systems that are key to various space missions. BlueHalo’s Attitude Determination and Control (ADC) products include Encoder Signal Processors (ESP), torque rods, Drive Control Units (DCU), and three-axis magnetometers that are all manufactured in the United States and fully qualified to SMC-S-016. Our Command & Data Handling (C&DH) products include Remote Interface Units, Transmission Data Formatters, Command and Telemetry Units (CTU), and Space Craft Processors (SCP). BlueHalo’s family of cryptographic units, include the KG-237 and KG-238, which provide certified NSA Type 1 encryption/decryption capability for critical mission support.
BlueHalo’s advanced RF solutions include advanced RF hardware and software for the design and implementation of futuristic systems. Using innovative design and technologies, advanced RF solutions improve the performance and affordability of critical RF applications. For instance, these include RF systems for radar, electronic warfare, unmanned aerial systems, testing, space, tactical radios, and 5G communications.
BlueHalo’s Wide Area Scanning Parabolic (WASP) utilizes digital beamforming techniques to provide multiple tracking beams across multiple bands on a single parabolic reflector. This solution is an LSC-band coverage, high efficiency, low cost solution for multi-target tracking, telemetry, and control missions. The WASP development effort includes system modeling, brassboard development, demonstration and field experiments at a TRL-5 level.
Our Multi-band Software Defined Antenna (MSDA), used in our SatCom solutions, enables two-way communications between multiple spatial, spectral, and temporal diverse targets. It is an LSC-band in-tile beamformer with 12+ targets, half-duplex receive/transmit (Rx/Tx) channels, and ±60 degree scan volumes in Azimuth and Elevation. The MSDA architecture is extensible across multiple mission areas.
The Multi-Band, Deployable Ground Terminal Enabling Resilient Communications (BADGER) system provides a modular and deployable large form factor phased array solution to complex SATCOM, telemetry, and electronic warfare missions. It is a LSC-band, 164 MSDA tile phased array with a 2 kW equivalent spatial distributed high power amplifier (HPA) that is installed on a deployable 20-foot ISO container. BADGER is an extension on the MSDA core development.
Our Multi-band Software Defined Antenna (MSDA), used in our SatCom solutions, enables two-way communications between multiple spatial, spectral, and temporal diverse targets. It is an LSC-band in-tile beamformer with 12+ targets, half-duplex receive/transmit (Rx/Tx) channels, and ±60 degree scan volumes in Azimuth and Elevation. The MSDA architecture is extensible across multiple mission areas.
nxtRF is a suite of advanced RF hardware and software solutions for the design and implementation of futuristic systems. Using innovative design and technologies, nxtRF improves the performance and affordability of critical RF applications, including RF systems for radar, electronic warfare, unmanned aerial systems, testing, space, tactical radios, and 5G communications.
BlueHalo provides advanced solutions, technologies, and effects across space and ground-based systems supporting orbital warfare, space domain awareness, resilient communications, and command and control, while degrading adversarial capabilities.
BlueHalo’s pointing and tracking system solutions for the space domain awareness mission leverage our long heritage in optics, gimbal pointing control, tracking, image processing, and satellite image exploitation. BlueHalo is capable of full-service component through system design (CAD) and analysis (FEA, thermal, optical), as well as in-house fabrication, and assembly, integration and test (AI&T). We also offer Battle Management, Command and Control (BMC2) and planner analysis, and satellite assessment.
BlueHalo is focused on developing and offering exquisite ground and/or space-based pointing and tracking system solutions for the space situational and domain awareness mission that leverages a long heritage in optics, gimbal pointing control, tracking, image processing, and satellite image exploitation. Our solutions include:
As an end-to-end developer of key EO/IR systems, BlueHalo is capable of full-service component through system design (CAD) and analysis (FEA, thermal, optical), as well as in-house fabrication, and assembly, integration and test (AI&T). We provide verification of supplier low-level designs, model correlation to as-built hardware items, and emulator development.
The BMC2 and Planner Analysis group supports AMRDEC, MDA, and the Air Force in future performance requirements development, integration and interoperability testing, and provides subject matter expertise in the area of Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Planning.
Scenario and test operations support for the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) program.
BlueHalo provides research into the effects of directed energy on space systems; develops physics-based modeling and simulation software tools to perform satellite and space systems technical analysis; performs laboratory and field measurements to validate the modeling and simulation software; and assesses and quantifies susceptibilities of space system to directed energy sources. To fulfill these objectives, BlueHalo performs technical analysis, and develops and sustains the software tools to support the analysis efforts. We modernize databases and analysis tools, and plan for future software development. Technical analysis is performed to satisfy several government organizations’ requirements.
BlueHalo is purpose-built to provide industry leading capabilities in our mission domains.
Want to learn more about our Space Superiority solutions? We look forward to hearing from you.
