RECENT TRENDS IN SPACE COMMUNICATION

THE ROLE OF OPTICAL FREE-SPACE ON INTER-SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

EEE 506- Current Trends in Electronic and Electrical Engineering

INTRODUCTION
The notion of satellite communication was proposed by Arthur C. Clarke in his article on Wireless World in 1945.

From inception gamut of technologies and operators have been operating to uphold satellite communication systems

MAJOR MILESTONES OF SPACE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS Category Year

1945

Activity
Suggestion of Geostationary satellite communication feasibility Detection of Lunar Echo by Radar

Person/Agency/Country
A. Clark ( U.K )

Geostationary concept
Moon Reflection

1946

J. Mofenson (U.S.A.) J.H. Trexler ( U.S.A. )

1954

Passive relaying of voice by moon reflection.

1960 1958 1958 1960 1960

Hawaii-Washington, D.C. Communication by Moon Reflection. Observation of signals from Sputnik -1 Satellite. Tape-recorded voice transmission by Satellite SCORE. Meteorological facsimile Trans mission by Satellite Tiros-1. Passive relaying of telephone and television by Satellite Echo-1. Delayed relaying of recorded voice by Satellite Courier-1B. Active transatlantic relaying of communication by Satellite Telstar-1. Communication between manned Satellites Vostok-3 and 4; Space television transmission. Scatter communication by tiny needles in Orbit. ( West Ford Project 6 ) Active transpacific relaying of communication by Satellite Relay 1. USA-Europe-Africa communication by Satellite Syncom 2. Olympic Games television relaying by Satellite Syncom 3 Commercial Communication (Semi-experimental) by Satellite Early Bird. U.S.A. Navy. U.S.S.R., Japan and others. U.S.A. Air Force.

U.S.A. NASA
U.S.A. Army. U.S.A. Army. U.S.A., U.K., France.

Low altitude orbit

1960 1962 1962 1963 1963 1963

U.S.A. MIT.
U.S.A. NASA, Japan. U.S.A. NASA U.S.A., NASA Japan. INTELSAT.

Synchronous Satellite

1964 1965

INTRODUCTION
Motivation to use Satellites Satellite missions. Satellite System Elements
Space segment Ground segment

Transponders
Bent-pipe Onboard processing

Footprints Orbits

Satellite System Elements

INTRODUCTION
Motivation to use Satellites Satellite missions. Satellite System Elements
Space segment Ground segment

Transponders
Bent-pipe Onboard processing

Footprints Orbits

Satellite Orbits

Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO): 36,000 km above Earth, includes commercial and military communications satellites, satellites providing early warning of ballistic missile launch. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO): from 5000 to 15000 km, they include navigation satellites (GPS, Galileo, Glonass). Low Earth Orbit (LEO): from 500 to 1000 km above Earth, includes military intelligence satellites, weather satellites.

Advantages of Satellite Communication

Can reach over large geographical area Easy to install new circuits Circuit costs independent of distance Broadcast possibilities Terrestrial network "by-pass" Provision of service to remote or underdeveloped areas User has control over own network 1-for-N multipoint standby possibilities

OPTICAL FREE SPACE COMUNICATION IN SPACE

In space, radio frequencies (RFs) are usually used for long-distance linkage. However, recent progress in optics and laser technologies, especially in fiber optics, is ushering in an era of inter-orbit communications using laser beams. Both RFs and optical waves are electromagnetic waves, but optical waves offer many advantages in space.

FEATURES OF OPTICAL FREE SPACE COMMUNICATION LINK

SMALLER SIZE LESS WEIGHT AND POWER CONSUMPTION HIGH DATA RATE SECURED NO REGULATORY RESTRICTION LESS OVERALL EXPENSES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE SAME MISSION

LIMITATIONS OF OPTICAL FREESPACE COMMUNICATION

VIBRATION
INTERNATIONAL INTEROPERABILITY POINT AHEAD PROBLEM

POINT AHEAD PROBLEM

RF, even EHF, spreads while propagating Laser light doesnt spread as much as RF

FUTURE TREND
LASER COMMUNICATIONS RELAY DEMONSTRATION MISSION (LCRD) as part of the launches anticipated in 2015 and 2016 by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt MD USA.
LCRD Mission will Enable reliable, capable and cost effective optical communication for near earth application and deep space missions Demonstrate high data rate optical technology Identify and develop requirement for future operational optical communication systems Develop industrial base for future space optical communication system