Optical Intersatellite Communication

Author

Sodnik, Zoran ; Furch, Bernhard ; Lutz, Hanspeter

Author_Institution

TEC-M, Eur. Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Volume

16

Issue

5

fYear

2010

Firstpage

1051

Lastpage

1057

Abstract

This paper describes the achievements in optical intersatellite communication based on technology developments that started in Europe (European Space Agency) more than 30 years ago. In 2001, the world-first optical intersatellite communication link was established (between the SPOT-4 and Advanced Relay and TEchnology MIssion Satellite (ARTEMIS) satellites), proving that optical communication technologies can be reliably mastered in space. In 2006, the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) demonstrated a bidirectional optical link between its Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite and ARTEMIS, and in 2008, the German Space Agency (DLR) established an intersatellite link between the near-field infrared experiment and TerraSAR-X satellites already based on the second generation of laser communication technology.

Keywords

artificial satellites; optical links; satellite communication; space communication links; ARTEMIS; European Space Agency; SPOT-4; advanced relay and technology mission satellite satellites; laser communication technology; optical communication; optical intersatellite communication; Artificial satellites; Communications technology; Europe; Gas lasers; High speed optical techniques; Optical fiber communication; Optical transmitters; Relays; Semiconductor lasers; Space technology; Coherent modulation; free-space laser communication technology; intersatellite communication;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTQE.2010.2047383

Filename

5475229