Title :
Technology, data bases and system analysis for space-to-ground optical communications
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
Optical communications is becoming an ever increasingly important option for designers of space-to-ground communications links, whether it be for government or commercial applications. The technology being developed by NASA for use in space-to-ground optical communications is presented. Next, a program which is collecting a long term data base of atmospheric visibility statistics for optical propagation through the atmosphere is described. Finally, a methodology for utilizing the statistics of the atmospheric data base in the analysis of space-to-ground links is presented. This methodology takes into account the effects of station availability, is useful when comparing optical communications with microwave systems, and provides a rationale for the establishing the recommended link margin
Keywords :
atmospheric light propagation; light propagation; optical communication; space communication links; statistical analysis; NASA; atmospheric database; atmospheric optical propagation; atmospheric visibility statistics; commercial applications; government applications; link margin; long term database; microwave systems; space to ground communications links; space to ground optical communications; station availability; system analysis; Atmosphere; Government; Microwave theory and techniques; NASA; Optical design; Optical fiber communication; Optical propagation; Space technology; Statistical analysis; Statistics;
Conference_Titel :
Military Communications Conference, 1995. MILCOM '95, Conference Record, IEEE
Conference_Location :
San Diego, CA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2489-7
DOI :
10.1109/MILCOM.1995.483398
