Environmental qualification and performance of a CubeSat-scale dual optical frequency comb payload for space applications
Abstract
We report the environmental qualification and performance of CombSat, a dual optical frequency comb payload designed for deployment on a 12U CubeSat in low Earth orbit. The payload integrates two self-referenced, 200 MHz hybrid fiber-waveguide frequency combs, a narrow-linewidth optical reference, a heterodyne beat detection unit, and FPGA-based control electronics in a total mass of 8.3 kg and volume of 5.7 L, and nominal power consumption of 21W. We describe the mechanical, thermal, and radiation-tolerant design features of the system and present the results of random vibration, storage temperature cycling, and thermal-vacuum testing conducted in accordance with NASA's General Environmental Verification Standard. We show that key comb performance metrics including oscillator and amplifier output power, frep, fCEO, and fopt signal-to-noise ratios, and integrated phase noise, remain within specification after environmental exposure, and we discuss observed failure modes and design modifications that improved robustness. These results demonstrate that compact, low power, fully stabilized, autonomous dual-comb systems can be engineered and qualified for spaceflight on CubeSat platforms, providing a path forward for future low-cost comb-based space applications.
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BibTeX
@misc{leifer2026environmental,
title = {{Environmental qualification and performance of a CubeSat-scale dual optical frequency comb payload for space applications}},
author = {Stephanie D. Leifer and Matthew J. Kelley and Natalie Walsh and Ziba Shahriary and Paul Steinvurzel and Chrissy Fortuna and Geoffrey Maul and Adam Darley and Ian Coddington and Laura C. Sinclair and Ariel Berman and Victor Chin and Henry Timmers and Kevin Knabe and Jason Pinon and Andrew Attar and Cole Smith and Cyrus Bry and Davis S. Kun and Stan Stanev and Nicole Thai and Bennett Sodergren and Daniel Deveraux and Grant Capan and Will McIntyre and Manas Choure},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.17976},
eprint = {2609.17976},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.17976},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Environmental qualification and performance of a CubeSat-scale dual optical frequency comb payload for space applications
AU - Stephanie D. Leifer
AU - Matthew J. Kelley
AU - Natalie Walsh
AU - Ziba Shahriary
AU - Paul Steinvurzel
AU - Chrissy Fortuna
AU - Geoffrey Maul
AU - Adam Darley
AU - Ian Coddington
AU - Laura C. Sinclair
AU - Ariel Berman
AU - Victor Chin
AU - Henry Timmers
AU - Kevin Knabe
AU - Jason Pinon
AU - Andrew Attar
AU - Cole Smith
AU - Cyrus Bry
AU - Davis S. Kun
AU - Stan Stanev
AU - Nicole Thai
AU - Bennett Sodergren
AU - Daniel Deveraux
AU - Grant Capan
AU - Will McIntyre
AU - Manas Choure
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/16
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.17976
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.17976
AB - We report the environmental qualification and performance of CombSat, a dual optical frequency comb payload designed for deployment on a 12U CubeSat in low Earth orbit. The payload integrates two self-referenced, 200 MHz hybrid fiber-waveguide frequency combs, a narrow-linewidth optical reference, a heterodyne beat detection unit, and FPGA-based control electronics in a total mass of 8.3 kg and volume of 5.7 L, and nominal power consumption of 21W. We describe the mechanical, thermal, and radiation-tolerant design features of the system and present the results of random vibration, storage temperature cycling, and thermal-vacuum testing conducted in accordance with NASA's General Environmental Verification Standard. We show that key comb performance metrics including oscillator and amplifier output power, frep, fCEO, and fopt signal-to-noise ratios, and integrated phase noise, remain within specification after environmental exposure, and we discuss observed failure modes and design modifications that improved robustness. These results demonstrate that compact, low power, fully stabilized, autonomous dual-comb systems can be engineered and qualified for spaceflight on CubeSat platforms, providing a path forward for future low-cost comb-based space applications.
ER -