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OTTER [DLR]
OTTER (Optical Traffic Tracking Experiment for Responsive Space) is a DLR 3U-CubeSat to test laser communications for CubeSats.
This satellite is a demonstration of the CubeLCT (formerly known as OSIRIS optical demonstration payload for CubeSats, OSIRIS4CubeSat). In the framework of the OSIRIS program, DLR develops highly compact optical communication payloads for small LEO spacecrafts together with their cooperation partner Tesat-Spacecom, who will commercialize it as CubeL DTE. The ptical terminal CubeLCT which will transfer pictures taken with the CubeSat via laser to the ground. CubeLCT data rate is 100 Mbps, and it takes a volume 0.3U and weights 350 g.
The mission will initially be monitored and controlled via UHF using a compatible COTS ground segment to perform an IOD of CubeLCT, a miniaturized OSIRIS space-to-ground laser communication terminal developed by DLR-KN in cooperation with Tesat-Spacecom.
| Nation: | Germany |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Technology |
| Operator: | DLR |
| Contractors: | DLR |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | CubeSat (3U) |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTTER | 2025-276Q | 28.11.2025 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with FORMOSAT 8A, W-Series 4, IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 1, ..., 8, Nahla, YAM 9, Azalea Cluster 1 RF-1, 2, 3, Pelican 5, 6, ICEYE X58, ..., X62, PIAST M, S1, S2, ŅuSat 47, 51, 52, Umbra-SAR 11, Mercury 1, HydroGNSS 1, 2, ION-SCV 021, 022, LacunaSat 4C, ..., 4F Lemur-2 233, 334, 235, Foresail 1p, LEO Express 3, FossaSat 2E22, 2E23, 2E24, FGN-TUG S01, FRG 10D1, CTC 1A, 1B, 1C, GENA-OT 1, GHGSat C14, C15, GYEONGGISat 1, MAUVE, PHI 1, SpeQtre, Black Kite 1, BRO 17, 20, 6GStarLab, AE5Ra, AE5Rb, AE5Rc, Lilium 2, PW-6U, R5 S7, TRYAD 1, 2, 3UCubed A, Flock-4h 1, ..., 36, Lilium 3, OTTER, PHASMA-LAMARR, PHASMA-DIRAC, SPiN 2, TORO 2, WISDOM A, B, MICE 1, Veery 0G, HUNITY, SARI 1, 2, Accenture 1, ANISC, HCT-Sat 2, IHI-Sat 2, Lemur-2 227, 228, LUNA 1, T.MicroSat 1, (Transporter 15) |
Launch Sites:
- Va = Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA
