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Deep-Space Optical Communications: Visions, Trends, and ProspectsCurrent key initiatives in deep-space optical communications are treated in terms of historical context, contemporary trends, and prospects for the future. An architectural perspective focusing on high-level drivers, systems, and related operations concepts is provided. Detailed subsystem and component topics are not addressed. A brief overview of past ideas and architectural concepts sets the stage for current developments. Current requirements that might drive a transition from radio frequencies to optical communications are examined. These drivers include mission demand for data rates and/or data volumes; spectrum to accommodate such data rates; and desired power, mass, and cost benefits. As is typical, benefits come with associated challenges. For optical communications, these include atmospheric effects, link availability, pointing, and background light. The paper describes how NASA's Space Communication and Navigation Office will respond to the drivers, achieve the benefits, and mitigate the challenges, as documented in its Optical Communications Roadmap. Some nontraditional architectures and operations concepts are advanced in an effort to realize benefits and mitigate challenges as quickly as possible. Radio frequency communications is considered as both a competitor to and a partner with optical communications. The paper concludes with some suggestions for two affordable first steps that can yet evolve into capable architectures that will fulfill the vision inherent in optical communications.
Document ID
20120009813
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Cesarone, R. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Abraham, D. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Shambayati, S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Rush, J.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
May 11, 2011
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE International conference on Space Optical Systems
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: May 11, 2011
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
space communication
deep space optical terminal (DOT)
flight laser transceiver
data rate
Single Optical Site

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