About

How can we advance our understanding of the early universe?

Deployable Optical Receiver Aperture, a collaboration with NASA JPL and ASU’s Low Frequency Cosmology Lab, advances satellite communication and supports radio cosmology. DORA’s innovative optical communication system aims to demonstrate 1 Gbps data rates over 1,000 km while requiring only 10° of spacecraft pointing accuracy. Ideally, this satellite system would be part of a larger swarm or constellation, providing strong crosslink and surface-to-orbit communication, paving the way for future networks in Earth’s orbit and beyond.

In addition to its communication advancements, DORA plays a vital role in supporting radio cosmology. Equipped with a VHF spectrometer, the satellite will map the 2–4 meter radio band, identifying “quiet zones” with minimal terrestrial interference from FM and other radio sources. These radio quiet zones are critical for radio cosmology, as they provide pristine environments for observing early-universe phenomena, such as the Epoch of Reionization, without signal contamination. By pinpointing these regions, DORA lays the groundwork for future observatories to conduct transformative research into the origins of the universe. Through this dual mission, DORA advances both satellite communications and the scientific study of the cosmos.