Balloon Data Readout via Free-Space Optical Communications

Free-space optical communications is a mature technology, using eye-safe beams and small-terminals, that has the potential to increase balloon data readout rates by orders of magnitude. Large commercial memory buffers paired with incredibly high-rate bursted communications – 100 Gbps has already been demonstrated with higher rates possible with existing commercial technologies – could revolutionize how science missions are designed and run. We will give an overview of the technology, show some examples of how it could already be useful to missions, and propose next steps to make affordable and robust systems be available to the balloon community.