Laser Telemetry to Increase Astronomical Downlink Capacities

Astronomical space missions currently on the drawing boards anticipate arrays of 109 pixels with high sensitivity and dynamic range, as well as short readout times. Telemetry rates (channel capacities) on the order of 100 gigabits per second will be required to transmit to ground the wealth of data these missions will generate. The fiber telecommunications industry has developed most of the basic components required to permit telemetry at near-infrared wavelengths. But a complete system will urgently have to be prepared for use on currently envisioned missions. We describe such a system and enumerate the hurdles that will have to be overcome to make it ready on time.

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