Laser communication in space

Short description: Communication using lasers in outer space

Laser communication in space is the use of free-space optical communication in outer space. Communication may be fully in space (an inter-satellite laser link) or in a ground-to-satellite or satellite-to-ground application. The main advantage of using laser communications over radio waves is increased bandwidth, enabling the transfer of more data in less time.

In outer space, the communication range of free-space optical communication is currently of the order of hundreds of thousands of kilometers.[1] Laser-based optical communication has been demonstrated between the Earth and Moon and it has the potential to bridge interplanetary distances of millions of kilometers, using optical telescopes as beam expanders.[2]

## Contents

* 1 Demonstrations and tests
* 1.1 Before 1990
* 1.2 1991–2000
* 1.3 2001–2010
* 1.4 2011–2020
* 1.5 2021–present
* 1.6 Future missions
* 2 Commercial use
* 2.1 Operators
* 2.2 Suppliers
* 3 Secure communications
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 Further reading

## Demonstrations and tests

### Before 1990

On 20 January 1968, the television camera of the Surveyor 7 lunar lander successfully detected two argon lasers from Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona and Table Mountain Observatory in Wrightwood, California.[3]

### 1991–2000

In 1992, the Galileo probe proved successful one-way detection of laser light from Earth as two ground-based lasers were seen from 6,000,000 km (3,700,000 mi) by the out-bound probe.[4]

The first successful laser-communication link from space was carried out by Japan in 1995 between the NASDA's ETS-VI GEO satellite and the 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)'s optical ground station in Tokyo achieving 1 Mbit/s.[5]

### 2001–2010

In November 2001, the world's first laser intersatellite link was achieved in space by the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite Artemis, providing an optical data transmission link with the CNES Earth observation satellite SPOT 4.[6] Achieving 50 Mbps across 40,000 km (25,000 mi), the distance of a LEO-GEO link.[7] Since 2005, ARTEMIS has been relaying two-way optical signals from Kirari, the Japanese Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite.[8]

In May 2005, a two-way distance record for communication was set by the Mercury laser altimeter instrument aboard the MESSENGER spacecraft. This diode-pumped infrared neodymium laser, designed as a laser altimeter for a Mercury orbit mission, was able to communicate across a distance of 24,000,000 km (15,000,000 mi), as the craft neared Earth on a fly-by.[9]

In 2006, Japan carried out the first LEO-to-ground laser-communication downlink from JAXA's OICETS LEO satellite and NICT's optical ground station.[10]

In 2008, the ESA used laser communication technology designed to transmit 1.8 Gbit/s across 40,000 km (25,000 mi), the distance of a LEO-GEO link. Such a terminal was successfully tested during an in-orbit verification using the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X and the American Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFire) satellite. The two Laser Communication Terminals (LCT)[11] used during these tests were built by the German company Tesat-Spacecom,[12] in cooperation with the German Aerospace Center (DLR).[13]

### 2011–2020

Depiction of the optical module of the LLCD Rendering of the successful OPALS experiment, the invisible laser shown here as a visible beam

In January 2013, NASA used lasers to beam an image of the Mona Lisa to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) roughly 390,000 km (240,000 mi) away at night from the Next Generation Satellite Laser Ranging (NGSLR) Station at NASA's Earth-based Goddard Space Flight Center. To compensate for atmospheric interference, an error correction code algorithm similar to that used in CDs was implemented.[14]

In September 2013, a laser communication system was one of four science instruments launched with the NASA LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) mission. After a month-long transit to the Moon and a 40-day spacecraft checkout, daytime laser communications experiments were performed over three months during late 2013 and early 2014.[15] Initial data returned from the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) equipment on LADEE set a space communication bandwidth record in October 2013 when early tests using a pulsed laser beam to transmit data over the 385,000 km (239,000 mi) between the Moon and Earth passed data at a "record-breaking download rate of 622 megabits per second (Mbps)",[16] and also demonstrated an error-free data upload rate of 20 Mbit/s from an Earth ground station to LADEE in lunar orbit. The LLCD is NASA's first attempt at two-way space communication using an optical laser instead of radio waves, and is expected to lead to operational laser systems on NASA satellites in future years.[16]

In November 2013, laser communication from a jet platform Tornado was successfully demonstrated for the first time. A laser terminal of the German company Mynaric (formerly ViaLight Communications) was used to transmit data at a rate of 1 Gbit/s over a distance of 60 km and at a flight speed of 800 km/h in daylight. Additional challenges in this scenario were the fast flight maneuvers, strong vibrations, and the effects of atmospheric turbulence. The demonstration was financed by EADS Cassidian Germany and performed in cooperation with the German Aerospace Center DLR.[17][18][19]

In November 2014, the first ever use of gigabit laser-based communication as part of the European Data Relay System (EDRS) was carried out.[20] Further system and operational service demonstrations were carried out in 2014. Data from the EU Sentinel-1A satellite in LEO was transmitted via an optical link to the ESA-Inmarsat Alphasat in GEO and then relayed to a ground station using a conventional Ka-band downlink. The new system can offer speeds up to 7.2 Gbit/s.[21] The Laser terminal on Alphasat is called TDP-1 and is still regularly used for tests. The first EDRS terminal (EDRS-A) for productive use has been launched as a payload on the Eutelsat EB9B spacecraft and became active in December 2016.[22] It routinely downloads high-volume data from the Sentinel 1A/B and Sentinel 2A/B spacecraft to ground. So far (April 2019) more than 20000 links (11 PBit) have been performed.[23] As of May 2023, EDRS has over one million minutes of communications[24] with more than 50,000 successful inter-satellite links.[25][26]

In December 2014, NASA's Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) announced a breakthrough in space-to-ground laser communication, downloading at a speed of 400 megabits per second. The system is also able to re-acquire tracking after the signal is lost due to cloud cover.[27] The OPALS experiment was launched on 18 April 2014 to the International Space Station (ISS) to further test the potential for using a laser to transmit data to Earth from space.[28]

The first LEO-to-ground lasercom demonstration using a Japanese microsatellite (SOCRATES) was carried out by NICT in 2014,[29] and the first quantum-limited experiments from space were done by using the same satellite in 2016.[30]

In February 2016, Google X announced to have achieved a stable laser communication connection between two stratospheric balloons over a distance of 100 km (62 mi) as part of Project Loon. The connection was stable over many hours and during day and nighttime and reached a data rate of 155 Mbit/s.[31]

In June 2018, Facebook's Connectivity Lab (related to Facebook Aquila) was reported to have achieved a bidirectional 10 Gbit/s air-to-ground connection in collaboration with Mynaric. The tests were carried out from a conventional Cessna aircraft in 9 km (5.6 mi) distance to the optical ground station. While the test scenario had worse platform vibrations, atmospheric turbulence and angular velocity profiles than a stratospheric target platform the uplink worked flawlessly and achieved 100% throughput at all times. The downlink throughput occasionally dropped to about 96% due to a non-ideal software parameter which was said to be easily fixed.[32]

In April 2020, the Small Optical Link for International Space Station (SOLISS) created by JAXA and Sony Computer Science Laboratories, established bidirectional communication between the ISS and a telescope of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology of Japan.[33]

On 29 November 2020, Japan launched the inter-satellite optical data relay geostationary orbit satellite with high speed laser communication technology, named LUCAS (Laser Utilizing Communication System).[34][35]

### 2021–present

File:The-Video-NASA’s-Laser-Communications-Experiment-Streamed-From-Deep-Space.mpg

In June 2021, the US Space Development Agency launched two 12U CubeSats to Sun-synchronous orbit to demonstrate laser communication links between the satellites and a remotely controlled MQ-9 Reaper.[37]

On December 7, 2021, NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) launched as part of USAF STP-3, to communicate between geosynchronous orbit and the Earth's surface.

In May 2022, TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) was launched (on PTD-3) and tested 100 Gbit/s comms from 300 mile orbit to California.[38]

Laser communications in deep space will be tested on the Psyche mission to the main-belt asteroid 16 Psyche, launched in 2023.[39] The system is called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC),[40] and is expected to increase spacecraft communications performance and efficiency by 10 to 100 times over conventional means.[40][39] In April 2024, the test was successfully completed with the Psyche spacecraft at a distance of 140 million miles.[41]

### Future missions

Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) will demonstrate in 2022 the fastest bidirectional lasercom link between the geosynchronous orbit and the ground at 10 Gbit/s by using the HICALI (High-speed Communication with Advanced Laser Instrument) lasercom terminal on board the ETS-9 (Engineering Test Satellite IX) satellite,[42] as well as the first intersatellite link at the same high speed between a CubeSat in LEO and HICALI in GEO one year later.[43] As of May 2024[update], a Full Trasceiver type terminal compatible for CubeSat has been designed and in development. CubeSOTA is expected to launch during the Japanese fiscal year 2025 with the terminal for "demonstrating various scenarios, including LEO–ground, LEO–HAPS, and LEO–LEO." CubeSOTA "will be the first in-orbit validation of the terminals."[44]

LunaNet is a NASA and ESA project and proposed data network aiming to provide a “Lunar Internet“ for cis-lunar spacecraft and installations. The specification for the system includes optical communications for links between the Earth and the Moon as well as for links between lunar satellites and the lunar surface.

## Commercial use

Corporations like SpaceX, Facebook and Google and a series of startups are currently pursuing various concepts based on laser communication technology. The most promising commercial applications can be found in the interconnection of satellites or high-altitude platforms to build up high-performance optical backbone networks. Other applications include transmitting large amounts of data directly from a satellite, aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the ground.[45]

### Operators

Multiple companies and government organizations want to use laser communication in space for satellite constellations in low Earth orbit to provide global high-speed Internet access. Similar concepts are pursued for networks of aircraft and stratospheric platforms.

Project  | Project Concept  | Environment  | Scenario  | Data rate  | Total number of lasers deployed/anticipated  | Supplier  | Status

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

European Data Relay System (EDRS)[lower-alpha 1] | Data relay to GEO satellites from LEO Earth observation satellites and for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions  | GEO, LEO | Space-to-space  | 1.8 Gbit/s  | 7/9  | Tesat-Spacecom[46] | Active since 2016[47]
Starlink | Satellite mega-constellation for global telecommunications  | LEO  | Space-to-space  | 100 Gbit/s[48] | >1,000/>10,000  | SpaceX / Starlink | Active since 2021[49][50]
DARPA Blackjack  | Risk reduction efforts to test the viability of new military space capabilities provided by emerging commercial LEO constellations[51] | LEO  | Space-to-space  |  | 2/unknown[52] | Mynaric,[53] SA Photonics[54] | Active since 2022[55]
Amazon Kuiper | Satellite mega-constellation for global telecommunications  | LEO  | Space-to-space[56] |  | 0/>10,000  |  | Development
SDA Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture  | Proliferated LEO constellation consisting of multiple layers serving needs of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).[51] | LEO  | Space-to-space  | 2.5 Gbit/s[57] | 0/>1,000  | Mynaric, SA Photonics (a CACI subsidiary), Skyloom, Tesat-Spacecom[58] | Development
OneWeb Gen Two[59] | Satellite mega-constellation for global telecommunications  | LEO  | Space-to-space  |  | 0/>1,000  |  | Development
Telesat LEO constellation  | Satellite mega-constellation for global telecommunications  | LEO  | Space-to-space  |  | 0/752[60] |  | Development
Laser Light Communications  | Satellite constellation for global telecommunications building an optical backbone network in space  | MEO  | Space-to-space, Space-to-ground  | 100 Gbit/s[61] |  | Ball Aerospace & Technologies[62] | Development
WarpHub InterSat | Inter satellite data relay for LEO Earth observation satellites, space-to-ground communication uses RF.  | MEO  | Space-to-space  | 1 Gbit/s[63] |  |  | Development
Analytical Space[64] | In-space hybrid RF/optical data relay network for Earth observation satellites | LEO | Space-to-ground  |  |  |  | Development
BridgeComm[65] | Direct data downstream from LEO Earth observation satellites to the ground  | LEO  | Space-to-ground  | 1 Gbit/s  |  | Surrey Satellite Technology[66] | Development
Cloud Constellation  | Secure data storage on satellites and secure intercontinental connections  | LEO  | Space-to-space  |  |  | Mynaric[67] | Development
Facebook Aquila[68] | Telecommunications for rural and remote areas provided by a network of high-altitude platforms | Stratosphere  | Air-to-air, Air-to-ground  | 10 Gbit/s  |  | Mynaric[32] | Terminated
LeoSat | Satellite mega-constellation for global telecommunications  | LEO  | Space-to-space  |  |  | Thales Alenia Space[69] | Terminated[70]
Google Loon[31] | Telecommunications for rural and remote areas provided by a network of stratospheric balloons  | Stratosphere | Air-to-air  | 0.155 Gbit/s  |  |  | Terminated
SpaceLink  | Data relay services from MEO for LEO satellites  | MEO, LEO  | Space-to-space  |  |  | Mynaric[71] | Terminated[72]

Legend

Active

Under development

Terminated

1. ↑ EDRS is a Public–private partnership between Airbus and the European Space Agency.

### Suppliers

Mynaric optical communication terminal intended for satellite use

A substantial market for laser communication equipment may establish when these projects will be fully realized.[73] New advancements by equipment suppliers is enabling laser communications while reducing the cost. Beam modulation is being refined, as its software, and gimbals. Cooling problems have been addressed and photon detection technology is improving. Currently active notable companies in the market include:

Company  | Product status

|

Ball Aerospace and Honeywell[74] [1] | in development
Ecuadorian Space Agency[75][76][2] | in production
Hensoldt [3] |
LGS Innovations[77] |
Mostcom JSC [4] | in development
Mynaric [5]
Sony[78] | in development
SpaceX / Starlink | in production
Surrey Satellite Technology | in development
Tesat-Spacecom[79] | in production
Thales Alenia Space | in production
Transcelestial[80] [7] | in development

## Secure communications

Secure communications have been proposed using a laser N-slit interferometer where the laser signal takes the form of an interferometric pattern, and any attempt to intercept the signal causes the collapse of the interferometric pattern.[81][82] This technique uses populations of indistinguishable photons[81] and has been demonstrated to work over propagation distances of practical interest[83] and, in principle, it could be applied over large distances in space.[81]

Assuming available laser technology, and considering the divergence of the interferometric signals, the range for satellite-to-satellite communications has been estimated to be approximately 2,000 km (1,200 mi).[84] These estimates are applicable to an array of satellites orbiting the Earth. For space vehicles or space stations, the range of communications is estimated to increase up to 10,000 km (6,200 mi).[84] This approach to secure space-to-space communications was selected by Laser Focus World as one of the top photonics developments of 2015.[85]

## See also

* Engineering:European Data Relay System - Network of communication satellites and ground stations
* Astronomy:Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration - NASA laser communication system test in 2013, tested in Oct/Nov 2013
* Astronomy:Laser Communications Relay Demonstration - NASA payload launched in 2021
* Satellite constellation
* Starlink
* Mars Laser Communication Demonstration
* Engineering:Optical PAyload for Lasercomm Science - optical communications test in 2014 between earth and ISS (OPALS)
* Engineering:Deep Space Optical Communications - Spacecraft communication system using lasers

* TBIRD, TeraByte InfraRed Delivery - tested in 2022.

## References

1. ↑ "LLCD: 2013-2014". National Aeronautics and Space Agency. June 15, 2018. https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/opticalcommunications/llcd/.
2. ↑ Steen Eiler Jørgensen (October 27, 2003). "Optisk kommunikation i deep space – Et feasibilitystudie i forbindelse med Bering-missionen". Dansk Rumforskningsinstitut. http://silicium.dk/pdf/speciale.pdf. (Danish) Optical Communications in Deep Space, University of Copenhagen
3. ↑ "Argon Laser as Seen from the Moon". http://www.w7ftt.net/laser2.html.
4. ↑ Berger, Brian (November 15, 2004). "NASA To Test Laser Communications With Mars Spacecraft". Space.com. https://www.space.com/534-nasa-test-laser-communications-mars-spacecraft.html.
5. ↑ Araki, Kenichi; Arimoto, Yoshinori; Shikatani, Motokazu; Toyoda, Masahiro; Toyoshima, Morio; Takahashi, Tetsuo; Kanda, Seiji; Shiratama, Koichi (1996). "Performance evaluation of laser communication equipment onboard the ETS-VI satellite". 2699. SPIE. p. 52. doi:10.1117/12.238434.
6. ↑ "A world first: Data transmission between European satellites using laser light". 22 November 2001. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/A_world_first_Data_transmission_between_European_satellites_using_laser_light.
7. ↑ "Optical Communications in Space". ESA. August 1997. http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bullet91/b91lutz.htm.
8. ↑ "Another world first for ARTEMIS: a laser link with an aircraft". ESA. 19 December 2006. http://telecom.esa.int/telecom/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=27945.
9. ↑ "Space probe breaks laser record: A spacecraft has sent a laser signal to Earth from 24 million km away in interplanetary space". BBC News. January 6, 2006. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4587580.stm.
10. ↑ Toyoshima, Morio; Takenaka, Hideki; Shoji, Yozo; Takayama, Yoshihisa; Koyama, Yoshisada; Kunimori, Hiroo (May 2012). "Acta Astronautica "Results of Kirari optical communication demonstration experiments with NICT optical ground station (KODEN) aiming for future classical and quantum communications in space"". Acta Astronautica 74: 40–49. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.12.020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576511003808. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
11. ↑ Laser Communication Terminals: An Overview
12. ↑ Tesat-Spacecom Website
13. ↑ "TerraSAR-X NFIRE test". http://www.dlr.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-78/7420_read-14120/.
14. ↑ Peckham, Matt (January 21, 2013). "NASA Beams Mona Lisa Image Into Space". Time. https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/01/21/nasa-beams-mona-lisa-image-into-space/.
15. ↑ "NASA launches robotic explorer to moon from Va.; trouble develops early in much-viewed flight". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. 2013-09-07. http://www.toledoblade.com/Nation/2013/09/07/NASA-launches-robotic-explorer-to-moon-from-Va-trouble-develops-early-in-much-viewed-flight.html.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Messier, Doug (2013-10-23). "NASA Laser System Sets Record with Data Transmissions From Moon". Parabolic Arc. http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/10/22/nasa-laser-system-sets-record-data-transmissions-moon/.
17. ↑ Belz, Lothar (2013-12-19). "Optical data link successfully demonstrated between fighter plane and ground station". http://www.cassidian.com/en_US/web/guest/optical-data-link-successfully-demonstrated.
18. ↑ Extreme Test for the ViaLight Laser Communication Terminal MLT-20 – Optical Downlink from a Jet Aircraft at 800 km/h, December 2013
19. ↑ "Laserkommunikation zwischen Jet und Bodenstation". http://dlr.de/dlr/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10293/427_read-9050/year-all/#gallery/8366.
20. ↑ "First image download over new gigabit laser connection in space". https://airbusdefenceandspace.com/newsroom/news-and-features/first-image-download-over-new-gigabit-laser-connection-in-space/.
21. ↑ "Laser link offers high-speed delivery". ESA. 28 November 2014. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Laser_link_offers_high-speed_delivery.
22. ↑ "Start of service for_Europe's Space Data Highway". ESA. 23 November 2016. https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/EDRS/Start_of_service_for_Europe_s_SpaceDataHighway.
23. ↑ "European Space Data Highway forges 20000 successful laser links". ESA. 2 April 2019. https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/First_satellite_in_European_SpaceDataHighway_forges_20_000_successful_laser_links.
24. ↑ "EDRS reached 1,000,000 minutes of communications!" (in en). 2023-04-25. https://securecommunications.airbus.com/en/news/edrs-is-reaching-1000000-minutes-of-communications.
25. ↑ "SpaceDataHighway reaches milestone of 50,000 successful laser connections" (in en). 2021-06-24. https://securecommunications.airbus.com/en/news/spacedatahighway-reaches-milestone-of-50000-successful-laser-connections.
26. ↑ "AUTO-TDS: ENABLING LASER COMMUNICATION NETWORKS TO AUTO DETECT INCOMING LINKS, SECURING CONNECTION AND AUTO-ROUTING THE DATA" (in en). 2022-09-18. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364459515.
27. ↑ Landau, Elizabeth (9 December 2014). "OPALS: Light Beams Let Data Rates Soar". Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA). http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4402. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
28. ↑ L. Smith, Stephanie; Buck, Joshua; Anderson, Susan (21 April 2014). "JPL Cargo Launched to Space Station". Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA). http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-122. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
29. ↑ Carrasco-Casado, Alberto; Takenaka, Hideki; Kolev, Dimitar; Munemasa, Yasushi; Kunimori, Hiroo; Suzuki, Kenji; Fuse, Tetsuharu; Kubo-Oka, Toshihiro et al. (October 2017). "Acta Astronautica "LEO-to-ground optical communications using SOTA (Small Optical TrAnsponder) – Payload verification results and experiments on space quantum communications"". Acta Astronautica 139: 377–384. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.07.030. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576516313194. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
30. ↑ Takenaka, Hideki; Carrasco-Casado, Alberto; Fujiwara, Mikio et al. (2017). "Satellite-to-ground quantum-limited communication using a 50-kg-class microsatellite". Nature Photonics 11 (8): 502–508. doi:10.1038/nphoton.2017.107. ISSN 1749-4885.
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Metz, Cade (24 February 2016). "Google Laser-Beams the Film Real Genius 60 Miles Between Balloons". Wired. https://www.wired.com/2016/02/google-shot-laser-60-miles-just-send-copy-real-genius/.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Price, Rob (29 June 2018). "Facebook tested plane-mounted lasers that fire super high-speed internet over California — here are the photos". Business Insider. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/facebook-tested-plane-mounted-lasers-that-fire-super-high-speed-internet-over-california-—-here-are-the-photos/ar-AAziD3w.
33. ↑ "Small Optical Link for International Space Station (SOLISS) Succeeds in Bidirectional Laser Communication Between Space and Ground Station". JAXA. April 23, 2020. https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2020/04/20200423-1_e.html.
34. ↑ "「データ中継衛星」搭載のH2Aロケット43号機打ち上げ成功". NHK. November 29, 2020. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20201129/k10012736931000.html.
35. ↑ "光衛星間通信システム（LUCAS". JAXA. October 30, 2020. https://www.satnavi.jaxa.jp/project/lucas/.
36. ↑ "NASA's Tech Demo Streams First Video From Deep Space via Laser". https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-tech-demo-streams-first-video-from-deep-space-via-laser. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
37. ↑ "DoD space agency to launch laser communications experiments on SpaceX rideshare". SpaceNews. 2021-06-02. https://spacenews.com/dod-space-agency-to-launch-laser-communications-experiments-on-spacex-rideshare/.
38. ↑ Communications system achieves fastest laser link from space yet
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Greicius, Tony (14 September 2017). "Psyche Overview". Nasa. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/psyche/overview/index.html. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Deep Space Communications via Faraway Photons NASA, 18 October 2017  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
41. ↑ "NASA's Optical Comms Demo Transmits Data Over 140 Million Miles - NASA" (in en-US). 2024-04-25. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/psyche-mission/nasas-optical-comms-demo-transmits-data-over-140-million-miles/.
42. ↑ Toyoshima, Morio; Fuse, Tetsuharu; Carrasco-Casado, Alberto; Kolev, Dimitar R.; Takenaka, Hideki; Munemasa, Yasushi; Suzuki, Kenji; Koyama, Yoshisada et al. (2017). "Research and development on a hybrid high throughput satellite with an optical feeder link — Study of a link budget analysis". 2017 IEEE International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS). pp. 267–271. doi:10.1109/ICSOS.2017.8357424. ISBN 978-1-5090-6511-0.
43. ↑ Carrasco-Casado, Alberto; Do, Phong Xuan; Kolev, Dimitar; Hosonuma, Takayuki; Shiratama, Koichi; Kunimori, Hiroo; Trinh, Phuc V.; Abe, Yuma et al. (2020). "Intersatellite-Link Demonstration Mission between CubeSOTA (LEO CubeSat) and ETS9-HICALI (GEO Satellite)". 2019 IEEE International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS). pp. 1–5. doi:10.1109/ICSOS45490.2019.8978975. ISBN 978-1-7281-0500-0. Bibcode: 2020arXiv200202791C.
44. ↑ Carrasco-Casado, Alberto; Shiratama, Koichi; Kolev, Dimitar; Ono, Fumie; Tsuji, Hiroyuki; Toyoshima, Morio (2024-06-07). "Miniaturized Multi-Platform Free-Space Laser-Communication Terminals for Beyond-5G Networks and Space Applications". Photonics 11 (6): 545. doi:10.3390/photonics11060545. Bibcode: 2024Photo..11..545C.
45. ↑ "Broadband Backhaul Communication for Stratospheric Platforms: The Stratospheric Optical Payload Experiment (STROPEX)". SPIE. July 21, 2006. http://elib.dlr.de/49621/1/2006_SPIE_STROPEX_Horwath_Reprint.pdf.
46. ↑ "Inside The World's First Space-Based Commercial Laser-Relay Service". Aviation Week. http://aviationweek.com/SpaceLaserRelay.
47. ↑ "European Data Relay Satellite System (EDRS) Overview" (in en). https://artes.esa.int/european-data-relay-satellite-system-edrs-overview.
48. ↑ "Fréquences Après consultation publique, l'Arcep attribue une nouvelle autorisation d'utilisation de fréquences à Starlink (see ZIP file linked from article narrative)". 2 Jun 2022. https://www.arcep.fr/actualites/actualites-et-communiques/detail/n/frequences-020622.html.
49. ↑ "Latest Starlink Satellites Equipped with Laser Communications, Musk Confirms - Via Satellite -" (in en). 2021-01-25. https://www.satellitetoday.com/broadband/2021/01/25/latest-starlink-satellites-equipped-with-laser-communications-musk-confirms/.
50. ↑ Grush, Loren (2020-09-03). "With latest Starlink launch, SpaceX touts 100 Mbps download speeds and 'space lasers'". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/3/21419841/spacex-starlink-internet-satellite-constellation-download-speeds-space-lasers.
51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 "US Military Places a Bet on LEO for Space Security". http://interactive.satellitetoday.com/via/june-2021/us-military-places-a-bet-on-leo-for-space-security/.
52. ↑ Hitchens, Theresa (25 August 2022). "DARPA's Mandrake 2 satellites: communicating at the speed of light". https://breakingdefense.com/2022/08/darpas-mandrake-2-satellites-communicating-at-the-speed-of-light/.
53. ↑ "To boost its military space business, Lockheed Martin turns to commercial players". 2020-11-23. https://spacenews.com/to-boost-its-military-space-business-lockheed-martin-turns-to-commercial-players/.
54. ↑ "DoD to test laser communications terminals in low Earth orbit". 2020-06-08. https://spacenews.com/dod-to-test-laser-communications-terminals-in-low-earth-orbit/.
55. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (17 May 2022). "Military experiment demonstrates intersatellite laser communications in low Earth orbit". https://spacenews.com/military-experiment-demonstrates-intersatellite-laser-communications-in-low-earth-orbit/.
56. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (14 October 2022). "Amazon to link Kuiper satellites to DoD's mesh network in space". https://spacenews.com/amazon-to-link-kuiper-satellites-to-dods-mesh-network-in-space/.
57. ↑ Space Development Agency, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense For Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). "Optical Communications Terminal (OCT) Standard Version 3.0". https://www.sda.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/SDA-OCT-Standard-v3.0.pdf.
58. ↑ Werner, Debra (18 October 2022). "SDA slide reveals Tranche 0 optical terminal manufacturers". https://spacenews.com/sda-slide-reveals-tranche-0-optical-terminal-manufacturers/.
59. ↑ "OneWeb 'plans optical links' for next generation of satellit" (in en). March 2021. https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3827854/oneweb-plans-optical-links-for-next-generation-of-satellites.
60. ↑ "Telesat Lightspeed LEO Network | Telesat". 20 May 2020. https://www.telesat.com/leo-satellites/.
61. ↑ "HALO Global Network by Laser Light Communications". https://www.laserlightcomms.com/.
62. ↑ "Ball Corp Prime Contractor for Laser Light's Satellite Fleet - Analyst Blog". 2014-09-11. https://www.nasdaq.com/article/ball-corp-prime-contractor-for-laser-lights-satellite-fleet-analyst-blog-cm389976.
63. ↑ "WarpHub InterSat". https://warpspace.jp/pdf/WSPitch_201031.pdf#page=7.
64. ↑ Khalid, Asma (September 19, 2017). "With US$200 Million, MIT's The Engine Makes Its First Investments In 'Tough Tech'". http://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2017/09/19/with-200-million-mits-the-engine-makes-its-first-investments-in-tough-tech.
65. ↑ Harris, David L. (March 12, 2015). "This Boston startup is building a faster way to send data from satellites — using lasers". Boston Business Journal. https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/techflash/2015/03/this-bostonstartup-is-building-a-faster-way-to.html.
66. ↑ SPIE Europe. "Miniature satellites to transmit optical data from space". http://optics.org/news/7/4/20.
67. ↑ "Cloud Constellation Selects Mynaric Laser OISL Terminals for its SpaceBelt Satellites - Via Satellite -" (in en). 2021-05-20. https://www.satellitetoday.com/manufacture/2021/05/20/cloud-constellation-selects-mynaric-laser-oisl-terminals-for-its-spacebelt-satellites/.
68. ↑ Newton, Casey (2016-07-21). "Inside the test flight of Facebook's first internet drone". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/a/mark-zuckerberg-future-of-facebook/aquila-drone-internet.
69. ↑ SPIE Europe. "Thales signs deal on optically connected satellites". http://optics.org/news/7/9/16.
70. ↑ "LeoSat, absent investors, shuts down". SpaceNews. 13 November 2019. https://spacenews.com/leosat-absent-investors-shuts-down/.
71. ↑ "Mynaric, SpaceLink Partner to Accelerate Satellite Laser Terminal Technology - Via Satellite -" (in en). 2021-05-12. https://www.satellitetoday.com/innovation/2021/05/12/mynaric-spacelink-partner-to-accelerate-satellite-laser-terminal-technology/.
72. ↑ Werner, Debra (31 October 2022). "SpaceLink to wind down operations, barring last-minute investment". https://spacenews.com/spacelink-wind-down/.
73. ↑ "Big Gains On Horizon For Laser Communications Suppliers". Aviation Week. March 11, 2015. http://aviationweek.com/space/big-gains-horizon-laser-communications-suppliers.
74. ↑ Russell, Kendall (17 April 2018). "Honeywell, Ball to Develop Optical Communication Links - Via Satellite -". Satellite Today. https://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2018/04/17/honeywell-ball-to-develop-optical-communication-links/.
75. ↑ "RBC Signals and Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (EXA) Announce Collaboration For Optical Communication System -". RBC Signals. 4 October 2018. https://rbcsignals.com/rbc-signals-and-ecuadorian-civilian-space-agency-exa-announce-collaboration-for-optical-communication-system/.
76. ↑ "LASER COMMUNICATIONS FOR CUBESATS: A 50 MBPS LASER/RADIO HYBRID TRANSCEIVER IN A PC-104 FORM FACTOR CARD -". Research Gate. 14 October 2019. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336899550.
77. ↑ Henry, Caleb (2016-05-18). "DARPA Awards Optical Satellite Terminal Contract to LGS Innovations". Satellite Today. http://www.satellitetoday.com/government-military/2016/05/18/darpa-awards-optical-satellite-terminal-contract-to-lgs-innovations/.
78. ↑ "Sony to launch space business". Nikkei Asian Review. April 15, 2018. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Sony-to-launch-space-business.
79. ↑ "Tesat - Products - Laser Products". Tesat-Spacecom. https://tesat.de/products#laserproducts. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
80. ↑ Karekar, Rupali (2017-03-22). "Space buffs make light work of data transfer". The Straits Times. http://www.straitstimes.com/business/space-buffs-make-light-work-of-data-transfer.
81. ↑ 81.0 81.1 81.2 F. J. Duarte (May 2002). "Secure interferometric communications in free space". Optics Communications 205 (4): 313–319. doi:10.1016/S0030-4018(02)01384-6. Bibcode: 2002OptCo.205..313D.
82. ↑ Duarte, F. J. (January 2005). "Secure interferometric communications in free space: enhanced sensitivity for propagation in the metre range". Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics 7 (1): 73–75. doi:10.1088/1464-4258/7/1/011. Bibcode: 2005JOptA...7...73D.
83. ↑ F. J. Duarte, T. S. Taylor, A. M. Black, W. E. Davenport, and P. G. Varmette, N-slit interferometer for secure free-space optical communications: 527 m intra interferometric path length, J. Opt 13, 035710 (2011)
84. ↑ 84.0 84.1 F. J. Duarte and T. S. Taylor, Quantum entanglement physics secures space-to-space interferometric communications, Laser Focus World 51(4), 54-58 (2015)
85. ↑ J. Wallace, Technology Review: Top 20 technology picks for 2015 showcase wide scope of photonics advances, Laser Focus World 51(12), 20-30 (2015)

## Further reading

* David G. Aviv (2006): Laser Space Communications, ARTECH HOUSE ISBN 1-59693-028-4

* v
* t
* e

Optical telecommunication

Basic|

* Smoke signal
* Beacon
* Hydraulic telegraph
* Ships' flags
* Optical telegraph
* Heliograph
* Signal lamp
* Photophone

Advanced|

* Fiber-optics
* Optical fiber
* Cable
* Connectors
* Optical wireless
* Free-space
* Visible light
* Li-Fi
* In space
* Consumer IR
* Optical Transport Network

Technologies|

* OC Rates
* Intensity modulation
* Modulating retro-reflector

* Category
* Portal

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser communication in space. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Engineering:Laser_communication_in_space&oldid=4339390"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template