Free-space optical links for space communication networks

Abstract

Future spacecraft will require a paradigm shift in the way the information is transmitted due to the continuous increase in the amount of data requiring space links. Current radiofrequency-based communication systems impose a bottleneck in the volume of data that can be transmitted back to Earth due to technological as well as regulatory reasons. Free-space optical communication has finally emerged as a key technology for solving the increasing bandwidth limitations for space communication while reducing the size, weight and power of satellite communication systems, and taking advantage of a license-free spectrum. In the last few years, many missions have demonstrated in orbit the fundamental principles of this technology proving to be ready for operational deployment, and we are now witnessing the emergence of an increasing number of projects oriented to exploit space laser communication (lasercom) in scientific and commercial applications. This chapter describes the basic principles and current trends of this new technology.

66 pages, 40 figures

References in corpus (7)

• The Photonic Lantern
• Satellite-to-ground quantum communication using a 50-kg-class micro-satellite
• The Scaling Relationship Between Telescope Cost and Aperture Size for Very Large Telescopes
• LEO-to-ground optical communications using SOTA (Small Optical TrAnsponder) - Payload verification results and experiments on space quantum communications
• Intersatellite-link demonstration mission between CubeSOTA (LEO CubeSat) and ETS9-HICALI (GEO satellite)
• Optical communication on CubeSats - Enabling the next era in space science
• On Approaching the Ultimate Limits of Photon-Efficient and Bandwidth-Efficient Optical Communication

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Quantum-limited optical time transfer for future geosynchronous links
• Satellite-based Quantum Information Networks: Use cases, Architecture, and Roadmap
• Development of a miniaturized laser-communication terminal for small satellites
• Prototype Development and Validation of a Beam-Divergence Control System for Free-Space Laser Communications
• NICT's versatile miniaturized lasercom terminals for moving platforms