Overview
ABSTRACT
This article reviews optical space communication systems. These systems are being considered for space applications such as massive data transfer and Internet via satellite. The article describes the optical link main sub-systems, in particular the communication chain, but also the optical head, for which it explains how the gain is calculated. It then introduces the methodology to close the link budget for low-dynamic links. It then mentions high dynamics links, mainly due to atmospheric turbulence, and how to deal with it. The setting up of an optical link is presented. Finally, the article discusses the capacity and availability of these systems.
Read this article from a comprehensive knowledge base, updated and supplemented with articles reviewed by scientific committees.
Read the articleAUTHOR
-
David PARRAIN: Optical telecommunications systems architect - Airbus Defence & Space, Toulouse, France
INTRODUCTION
In an increasingly connected world, communication requirements have grown exponentially. The dominance of optical communications in the terrestrial domain in recent decades is explained by their high data transmission capacities over long distances. Their increasing adoption in the space domain has been driven by the combined need to increase data rates while reducing system size and cost. Optical space communications are already proving their worth for inter-satellite links, notably with the advent of low-earth orbit constellations (Space Development Agency (SDA), Starlink) and for data repatriation via a geosynchronous satellite (European Data Relay Satellite System, EDRS). Development efforts are now concentrating on increasing data rates and creating links that pass through the atmosphere, adding a further level of complexity.
Apart from the promise of very high data rates, optical space telecommunication systems offer a number of additional advantages over radio frequency (RF) systems:
there are no regulations governing the use of these frequencies. In fact, they are so large and beams so narrow that the risk of interference with another system is negligible;
Their discretion makes them difficult to spy on and scramble, which is of great interest to the armed forces;
they are more compact than radio-frequency systems (at equivalent data rates);
they reduce electromagnetic compatibility problems on spacecraft.
On the other hand, these systems still suffer from a few hard points:
Spatialization of terrestrial components is not always easy because of the advanced electronics used;
they operate almost exclusively on point-to-point links;
they are extremely sensitive to cloud cover, which...
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!
Already subscribed? Log in!
The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference
KEYWORDS
spatial | optical telecommunication | optical link | terminal | free space optics | satellite | communication chain | optical head | high capacity
This article is included in
Electronics
This offer includes:
Knowledge Base
Updated and enriched with articles validated by our scientific committees
Services
A set of exclusive tools to complement the resources
Practical Path
Operational and didactic, to guarantee the acquisition of transversal skills
Doc & Quiz
Interactive articles with quizzes, for constructive reading
Optical space communications systems
Bibliography
Standards and norms
Space Development Agency (2023). Optical Communications Terminal (OCT) Standard Version 3.1.0. United States Space Force.
https://www.sda.mil/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SDA_OCT_Standard-3.1.0_Signed_Web_Version.pdf
The Consultative Committee for Space...
Directory
Manufacturers – Suppliers – Distributors (non-exhaustive list)
Optical space terminal
TESAT
Optical space terminal
Mynaric
...
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!
Already subscribed? Log in!
The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference