Author Topic: Laser Light Communications: A laser communications constellation (Read 3834 times)

gosnold · « **on:** 09/11/2014 09:19 am »

Laser Light Communications plan to launch a constellation of 12 satellites with optical communication payloads and have them operational by 2017, for a total throughput of 6Tbps. The satellites will be built by Ball and launch by clusters on four in MEO.
Their site:
http://www.laserlightcomms.com/index.php

Ball announcement:
http://www.ballaerospace.com/page.jsp?page=30&id=605#.VBFfHNPbrzQ.twitter

TrevorMonty · « **Reply #1 on:** 09/11/2014 10:07 am »

A very informative presentation on NASA Laser communications tests.

http://spirit.as.utexas.edu/~fiso/telecon/Edwards_10-23-13/

The only flaw in laser communications is the need for clear skies above any ground station. Eventually GEO satellites may start employing laser communications a long side their RF systems. For satellite TV transmissions there is no getting away from RF but there is no reason the up link can't be laser.

ChefPat · « **Reply #2 on:** 09/11/2014 02:24 pm »

Do laser comm systems have any crossover technology that would be useful for a space based interferometer?

baldusi · « **Reply #3 on:** 09/11/2014 08:42 pm »

Quote from: ChefPat on 09/11/2014 02:24 pm

Do laser comm systems have any crossover technology that would be useful for a space based interferometer?

Optical interferometry is really tough. I would seriously doubt it. What this might offer, though, is global data access to any earth observation bird. A very interesting and useful service (not everybody can access TDRS).

gosnold · « **Reply #4 on:** 09/11/2014 09:13 pm »

The next-gen TDRS might include optical terminals, NASA is studying it (see previous post). The DoD is also interested, it would be blessing for the NRO.The planned European Data Relay System is designed to use lasers too. So it's going to shake the satcom industry.

TrevorMonty · « **Reply #5 on:** 09/12/2014 08:43 am »

Quote from: gosnold on 09/11/2014 09:13 pm

The next-gen TDRS might include optical terminals, NASA is studying it (see previous post). The DoD is also interested, it would be blessing for the NRO.The planned European Data Relay System is designed to use lasers too. So it's going to shake the satcom industry.

Here is article on this.
http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/39828nasa-wants-laser-communications-for-tdrs-follow-on-needs-industry-money

The Edwards presentation (see link a few posts back) said that most of the satcom operators were more than happy to have NASA's Laser demo fly on one of their satellites. This is understandable as satcom industry stands to benefit from this technology.