Optical Satellite Communications

Satellite-based communication systems of today are increasingly capacity limited. Based on radio frequency or microwave (generically RF) technologies, current state-of-the-art satellite communications (satcom) are often constrained by hardware and spectrum allocation limitations. Consequently, mobile payload sensors and instruments (on satellite or aircraft) are often implemented with restricted capacity to better match that of the host platform. Such limitations are expected to worsen as future interplanetary, deep-space, and manned missions use more sophisticated data-intensive sensors and as the demand for information—and a bigger return on the space-exploration investment—continues to increase.

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