Laser Communication in Space : The TDP-1 Mission Control Center and its current operational experience

TDP-1 is a quasi-operational technology demonstration payload, designed to prove the concept of data transfer between low-orbit observation satellites and earth via a geostationary relay satellite in between the communication chain. This detour allows to significantly increase transferable data volume at reduced latency time, and is performed with the help of Laser Communication Terminals (LCTs) on board the low-orbit as well as the geostationary satellite, from which the data is immediately downlinked via Ka-Band. In this framework, TDP-1 is the successful precursor mission for the forthcoming European Data Relay Satellite System (EDRS).