Optical intersatellite links

Author

Gatenby, P.V. ; Grant, M.A.

Author_Institution

BAe Space Syst., Stevenage, UK

Volume

3

Issue

6

fYear

1991

fDate

12/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

280

Lastpage

288

Abstract

Direct communication links between spacecraft will be an important element in the future space communication infrastructure. Optical intersatellite links (OISLs) offer the major advantages over conventional microwave links of low mass, power consumption, size and real estate, and flight-qualified transceivers are now feasible. There are, however, formidable problems in achieving pointing accuracy and stability of the order of a few millionths of a degree. The Japanese ETS VI experiment, the European Space Agency´s `SILEX´ experiment and NASA´s laser communications transceiver are due to fly in the mid-1990s. The authors discuss the status of OISL systems and technology and describe the British Aerospace optical multiple access (OMA) system as an example of a lightweight transceiver attractive to spacecraft designers

Keywords

multi-access systems; optical communication equipment; optical links; satellite relay systems; space communication links; transceivers; British Aerospace OMA system; ESA SILEX experiment; Japanese ETS VI experiment; NASA laser communications transceiver; OISL systems; lightweight transceiver; optical intersatellite links; optical multiple access; pointing accuracy; stability; technology;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Electronics & Communication Engineering Journal

Publisher

iet

ISSN

0954-0695

Type

jour

Filename

120731