Optical transport terminal node architecture with free space optical backplane

A free space optical backplane structure comprising:

• a body comprising a chamber, a front panel, and a plurality of apertures disposed in the front panel, the plurality of apertures comprising a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures;
• a plurality of mirrors, comprising:
• a first array of mirrors mounted at a first set of heights within the chamber, wherein the first set of apertures is located in the front panel at the first set of heights and is aligned with the first array of mirrors;
• and
• a second array of mirrors mounted at a second set of heights within the chamber, wherein the second set of apertures is located in the front panel at the second set of heights and is aligned with the second array of mirrors.

A system comprising:

• a body comprising a chamber, a front panel, and a plurality of apertures disposed in the front panel, the plurality of apertures comprising a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures;
• a plurality of mirrors, comprising:
• a first array of mirrors mounted at a first set of heights within the chamber, wherein the first set of apertures is located in the front panel at the first set of heights and is aligned with the first array of mirrors;
• and
• a second array of mirrors mounted at a second set of heights within the chamber, wherein the second set of apertures is located in the front panel at the second set of heights and is aligned with the second array of mirrors.

An optical transport terminal node comprising:

• an optical transport multiplexer/demultiplexer node;
• an optical transponder node;
• a front panel comprising a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures comprising a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures;
• and
• a plurality of mirrors, comprising:
• a first array of mirrors mounted at a first set of heights, wherein the first set of apertures is located in the front panel at the first set of heights and is aligned with the first array of mirrors;
• and
• a second array of mirrors mounted at a second set of heights, wherein the second set of apertures is located in the front panel at the second set of heights and is aligned with the second array of mirrors.