Ground terminal for high-speed space laser communication

Аuthors

Lozov R. K.^*, Maslovets M. V.^**, Murashkin V. V.^***, Makarov D. K.^****, Govorov T. K.^*****

Research-and-Production Corporation «Precision Systems and Instruments», 53, Aviamotornaya str., Moscow, 111024, Russia

*e-mail: rk@lozov.ru
**e-mail: lilweeny.7@yandex.ru
***e-mail: mvv@npk-spp.ru
****e-mail: dosiaich@yandex.ru
*****e-mail: t-govorov@mail.ru

Abstract

The article addresses the current problem of high-speed data transmission between spacecraft and ground stations. Existing radio-frequency systems face limitations in data transmission rate (1–2 Gbit/s) and high power consumption, which makes the development of space laser communication systems a promising direction.
A particular challenge, however, is the stabilization of uplink communication channels due to atmospheric inhomogeneities causing beam wandering and beam broadening effects. To compensate for these phenomena, the authors propose a unique technical solution based on a coherent multi-beam transmitter with an optimal optical beam radius and a phase equalization system for the information channel. These technical solutions formed the basis for the developed ground terminal capable of full-duplex data exchange over distances ranging from 400 to 2000 kilometers.
Experimental studies of the ground terminal confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed technical solution.
The developed concept of a ground terminal based on a coherent multi-beam transmitter opens up new prospects for organizing high-speed space communication and can serve as a basis for creating more advanced data transmission systems with rates of 10 Gbit/s and higher. 

Keywords:

high-speed space laser communication; ground terminal; uplink; downlink; atmospheric turbulence

References

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