Development of laser beam transmission strategies for future ground-to-space optical communications

Keith E. Wilson; Joseph Kovalik; Abhijit Biswas; William Roberts

doi:10.1117/12.720803

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4 May 2007 Development of laser beam transmission strategies for future ground-to-space optical communications

Keith E. Wilson, Joseph Kovalik, Abhijit Biswas, William Roberts

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Proceedings Volume 6551, Atmospheric Propagation IV; 65510B (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.720803
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2007, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Optical communications is a key technology to meet the bandwidth expansion required in the global information grid. High bandwidth bi-directional links between sub-orbital platforms and ground and space terminals can provide a seamless interconnectivity for rapid return of critical data to analysts. The JPL Optical Communications Telescope Laboratory (OCTL) is located in Wrightwood California at an altitude of 2.2.km. This 200 sq-m facility houses a state-of- the-art 1-m telescope and is used to develop operational strategies for ground-to-space laser beam propagation that include safe beam transmission through navigable air space, adaptive optics correction and multi-beam scintillation mitigation, and line of sight optical attenuation monitoring. JPL has received authorization from international satellite owners to transmit laser beams to more than twenty retro-reflecting satellites. This paper presents recent progress in the development of these operational strategies tested by narrow laser beam transmissions from the OCTL to retro-reflecting satellites. We present experimental results and compare our measurements with predicted performance for a variety of atmospheric conditions.

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Keith E. Wilson, Joseph Kovalik, Abhijit Biswas, and William Roberts "Development of laser beam transmission strategies for future ground-to-space optical communications", Proc. SPIE 6551, Atmospheric Propagation IV, 65510B (4 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.720803

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