22SkiOperations

OPERATIONS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR OPTICAL AND QUANTUM GROUND INFRASTRUCTURE

SL-6C.031-P2

ESA Contract No. 4000140013/22/UK/AL

SKINAKAS OBSERVATORY

Skinakas Observatory is a joint research facility of the University of Crete and the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). Its prime objective is to conduct fundamental research in Astrophysics as well as to promote astronomy and enjoying the wonders of the night sky to the general public in Greece. Skinakas Observatory is dedicated to research projects addressing cutting-edge topics in astrophysics. Data obtained with this telescope have contributed to ~300 peer-reviewed publications, which have collectively received ~9000 citations. The importance of this site for astrophysical research is internationally recognized.

The 1.3m Skinakas telescope has been selected to support the ESA ScyLight programme, as well as the HydRON and SAGA projects, which prepare the space segment of the European Commission’s EuroQCI Initiative. The observatory will also contribute to the recently approved SEEWQCI (South-East Europe to Western Europe Quantum Communication Infrastructure) and TransEuroOGS projects.

To this end, ESA launched two Invitations to Tender (ITTs) under the ARTES 4.0 strategic programme line Optical Communication – ScyLight. One ITT focused on the design, construction, and implementation of the optical communication system, while the other provided operational development support. These activities were awarded to two institutes of the Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas (FORTH): the Institute of Electronic Structure and Lasers (IESL) and the Institute of Astrophysics (IA), respectively. These two projects are:

22SkinOPERATIONS (Coordinated by IA): Operational development support, including integration and operation of the optical communication system with the 1.3 m telescope.

22SkinUP (Coordinated by IESL): Design, construction, and implementation of the optical communication system.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the activity is to provide initial operational development support to optical ground stations (OGS) developed within the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) and the ESA nucleus ground station networks and those OGS selected for testing technologies developed within ARTES ScyLight activities. More specifically and applied to the Greek initiative, the project aims to convert Skinakas into an OGS capable to track LEO space objects and detect optical signals.

To achieve this goal the Skinakas team must carry out several activities that have been grouped into three Work Packages:

• WP1. OGS equipment reception and inventory update: This involves creating a detailed inventory of existing and missing equipment, procuring necessary items, and inspecting and testing all OGS subsystems. An online logbook has been set up to track equipment, operations, and issues.
• WP2. Equipment Installation and Familiarization: Using the equipment received the team worked on installing and aligning equipment on the telescope, implementing software and computer interfaces, and conducting system operational status testing. Through these activities the staff will be trained and familiarized with observations running.
• WP3. Satellite operation campaigns: Having conducted the previous steps, the consortium will demonstrate system operation by conducting tests and dry runs that will showcase the operational level achieved.

PROJECT MAIN UPGRADES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• New Telescope Control System: In order to be able to use the 1.3m telescope to track LEO satellites a number of upgrades needed to be performed, the most important one being the replacement of the controller of the Telescope Control System. A Force One controller from SITECH manufacturer replaced the old TCS. The new controller allows extremely high speed encoder inputs and more memory for future enhancements. It has USB and RS232 connections and a built-in auto-guider among other features. The new system also includes a more precise telescope position encoder, a customized dome controller which replaces the old TCS, a new focuser and specific telescope mirror flaps controller.

• OGS preliminary operations. The implementation of the OGS requirements requires careful planning to ensure that both activities—astronomy and optical communication—can be carried out effectively without interfering with each other. While the installation and integration of the optical communication system can be performed during daylight hours, the execution of the test campaigns must take place at night, when satellites are visible due to reflected sunlight. The main objective of this action was to evaluate the upgraded 1.3 m telescope controller’s ability to point to and track LEO satellites prior to the final installation of the PAT breadboard. This included conducting a dry run of a satellite pass to identify potential issues—such as reaching telescope motion limits or unexpected dome behavior—prior to the actual satellite tracking tests

• Integration and Installation. The optical communication system, designed and assembled by IESL-FORTH, was installed on the East GAM port of the 1.3 m telescope. To adapt the PAT breadboard to the telescope’s GAM interface, a custom adapter flange was designed. This flange serves as a mechanical interface between the GAM flange and the entrance port of the breadboard. It is first mounted onto the GAM flange, after which the PAT breadboard is attached using a set of precisely positioned threaded holes on the flange side and matching holes on the breadboard side.

• OGS final operations. On 20th and 21st November 2025, the PAT saw “first light”. The telescope pointed at several bright stars to test the fast steering mirror (FSM) and the ability to perform close loop operations. The results were excellent. The system quickly corrected on forced alt-azimuth shifts introduced by the telescope controller.