Optical Communications Terminal (OCT) Standard Version 4.0

The Space Development Agency (SDA) has released an update to the Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) Standard. Version 4.0 of the OCT Standard is backwards compatible with previous versions, ensures interoperability across vendors, enables a strong marketplace, and provides relevant communication capabilities to space, terrestrial, maritime, and airborne warfighting platforms. The SDA OCT standard defines top-level technical specifications for an optical communications terminal to be interoperable with the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, ultimately enabling partners and allies to move data across the SDA Transport Layer.

OCT Standard v4.0 will be used to define optical communications requirements for Tranche 3.  Emerging warfighter needs and technology advancements drive the spiral development of the OCT Standard. SDA will continue to deliver good enough capability to the warfighter sooner, in two-year spirals.

OCT Standard v4.0 introduces a new long-range waveform developed in partnership with the Space Systems Command (SSC) Resilient Missile Warning/Missile Tracking (MW/MT) medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Missile Track Custody (MTC) program.  This waveform will enable a resilient path for the Epoch 2 constellation of MEO MTC satellites to move critical warfighter data through the SDA Transport Layer.

Earlier versions of the OCT Standard may be found here.