Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) update and the path towards optical relay operations

Israël, David; Edwards, Bernard L.; Staren, J.

doi:10.1109/aero.2017.7943819

Cited by 42 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Light for Free-Space Optical Communication Saad Bin Ali Reza 1, † , Tianhong Wang 2, † , Finn Buldt 2 , Pascal Bassène 2, * , Moussa N'Gom 2,3 Abstract-The generation of a laser filament through clouds produces a shockwave which displaces the small water droplets from the air to create a quasi-transparent channel through which, information can be transmitted. We present a robust method that utilizes the channel for free-space optical communication using structured light beams coupled with a femtosecond filament.…”

Section: Femtosecond Filament Coupled With Structuredmentioning

confidence: 99%

Femtosecond Filament Coupled with Structured Light for Free-Space Optical Communication

Reza¹,

Wang²,

Buldt³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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<p>The generation of a laser filament through clouds produces a shockwave which displaces the small water droplets from the air to create a quasi-transparent channel through which, information can be transmitted. We present a robust method that utilizes the channel for free-space optical communication using structured light beams coupled with a femtosecond filament. Structured light beams based on their spatial profiles are perfectly suited to propagate around the filament. We have also developed a 4-bit communication channel using a segmented annular beam. Our system demonstrates resilience to noise and is unaffected by the filament. This method can improve the scalability, robustness, and capacity of the free optical channel.</p>

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Section: Femtosecond Filament Coupled With Structuredmentioning

confidence: 99%

Femtosecond Filament Coupled with Structured Light for Free-Space Optical Communication

Reza¹,

Wang²,

Buldt³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…Currently, NASA is developing its own relay system called LCRD (Laser Communications Relay Demonstration), which should start operating in 2019 [64] [65]. In Japan, JAXA is developing another relay system called JDRS (Japan Data Relay System) to start operating in 2019 [66] [67], and NICT is developing a GEO feeder-link terminal called HICALI (High-speed Communication with Advanced Laser Instrument), which aims at demonstrating bidirectional lasercom from GEO up to 10 Gbit/s in 2021 [68] [69].…”

Section: The Forthcoming Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Optical Links for Communication Networks

Carrasco‐Casado

Calvo

2020

Springer Handbooks

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Future spacecraft will require a paradigm shift in the way the information is transmitted due to the continuous increase in the amount of data requiring space links. Current radiofrequency-based communication systems impose a bottleneck in the volume of data that can be transmitted back to Earth due to technological as well as regulatory reasons. Free-space optical communication has finally emerged as a key technology for solving the increasing bandwidth limitations for space communication while reducing the size, weight and power of satellite communication systems, and taking advantage of a license-free spectrum. In the last few years, many missions have demonstrated in orbit the fundamental principles of this technology proving to be ready for operational deployment, and we are now witnessing the emergence of an increasing number of projects oriented to exploit space laser communication (lasercom) in scientific and commercial applications. This chapter describes the basic principles and current trends of this new technology.

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“…Moreover, scheduled services provided by one system would not be burdened by the schedules of other communications relays; disaggregation would enable users to continue receiving communications support from providers, even while certain space-based relays are not in service or not available. [1] Figure 1. The disaggregated approach involves individual systems with different communications capabilities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Next-generation NASA Earth-orbiting relay satellites: Fusing optical and microwave communications

Israël

Shaw

2018

2018 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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NASA is currently considering architectures and concepts for the generation of relay satellites that will replace the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) constellation, which has been flying since 1983. TDRS-M, the last of the second TDRS generation, launched in August 2017, extending the life of the TDRS constellation beyond 2030. However, opportunities exist to re-engineer the concepts of geosynchronous Earth relay satellites. The needs of the relay satellite customers have changed dramatically over the last 34 years since the first TDRS launch. There is a demand for greater bandwidth as the availability of the traditional RF spectrum for space communications diminishes and the demand for ground station access grows. The next generation of NASA relay satellites will provide for operations that have factored in these new constraints. In this paper, we describe a heterogeneous constellation of geosynchronous relay satellites employing optical and RF communications. The new constellation will enable new optical communications services formed by user-tospace relay, space relay-to-space relay and space relay-toground links. It will build upon the experience from the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration from 2013 and the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration to be launched in 2019. Simultaneous to establishment of the optical communications space segment, spacecraft in the TDRS constellation will be replaced with RF relay satellites with targeted subsets of the TDRS capabilities. This disaggregation of the TDRS service model will allow for flexibility in replenishing the needs of legacy users as well as adding new capabilities for future users. It will also permit the U.S. government access to launch capabilities such as rideshare and to hosted payloads that were not previously available.

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Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) update and the path towards optical relay operations

Cited by 42 publications

References 3 publications

Femtosecond Filament Coupled with Structured Light for Free-Space Optical Communication

Femtosecond Filament Coupled with Structured Light for Free-Space Optical Communication

Space Optical Links for Communication Networks

Next-generation NASA Earth-orbiting relay satellites: Fusing optical and microwave communications

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