Regarding: [cgi.ebay.com]

NASA Satellite Space Flight Hardware Laser Link System

This auction is for a lot of actual satellite flight hardware. We know that this item was surplus from Ball Areospace in Boulder Colorado, many of the individual pieces were manufactured by McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis, MO. We believe that this is a Laser Crosslink System (LCS) used on a military satellite program. For more information you might check out this link to the Ball Aerospace Laser Crosslink System website. WE CANNOT ANSWER ANY FURTHUR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS HARDWARE BEYOND WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE AUCTION DESCRIPTION AND PICTURES, WE JUST DON’T KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT THIS UNIT.

The flight structure is mounted in a large aluminum carrier frame. The spacecraft structure is a carbon fiber frame that has the various electronic modules, optical table, and wiring harness mounted to it. The spacecraft portion has a three point mount to the aluuminum carrier. The mechanical frame on this unit is SN001 (see photo), unfortunately one of the tripod sets for the telescope optics is broken (thus the roll of tape in the pictures holding it in position). It could easily be glued back in place if desired.

We actually had two of these units and dismantled one for our curiosity. The pictures of the dismantled units are from the first unit. THESE PIECES WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE LOT.

…etc; it’s a “Aerospace Laser Crosslink System”?

I’m going to bet that it’s from something like one of the Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) spy-satellite systems. They travel in groups of two or three using aperture-synthesis radar for high-resolution imaging of the ocean surface; McDD is not mentioned as a prime contactor but the satellites would require secure high-bandwidth communications between the nodes in order to perform their work, and perhaps this was subcontracted?