Experimental And Preoperational Optical Intersatellite Links

M. Wittig; G. Oppenhaeuser; A. Hahne

doi:10.1117/12.976548

2 May 1988 Experimental And Preoperational Optical Intersatellite Links

M. Wittig, G. Oppenhaeuser, A. Hahne

Proceedings Volume 0885, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.976548
Event: 1988 Los Angeles Symposium: O-E/LASE '88, 1988, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

ESA is developing an optical communication system for data links between two geostationary satellites or between a geostationary satellite and a low earth orbiting satellite within the Payload and Satellite Development and Experimentation (PSDE) program. With these payloads an experimental and preoperational phase is foreseen in order to demonstrate the advantages of optical intersatellite data links over conventional microwave data links. The in-orbit experimental arrangement as well as the test program will be described. The most important difference between optical and microwave intersatellite links is the statistical distribution of bit error probability. For microwave links mainly the thermal noise of the LNA determines the statistic of bit error distribution whilst antenna pointing error influence is negligible whereas for optical intersatellite links the antenna mispointing as well as the noise of the optical receiver front end have great influence on bit error probability distribution. The investigation and evaluation of the influence of satellite attitude motion on antenna pointing error and bit error rate is a major part of the test program which further includes the measurement of relevant parameters like interference between different wavelength channels, change of optical surfaces,... after some time in orbit. The GEO-2 terminal will be installed on board of SAT-2 which is developed within the PSDE programme and the first European LEO spacecraft which will carry an optical data link terminal is the French SPOT 4 earth observation spacecraft. The whole mission scenario including the microwave feeder link between ground and geostationary spacecraft SAT-2 will be considered from the communication systems point of view.

Citation Download Citation

M. Wittig, G. Oppenhaeuser, and A. Hahne "Experimental And Preoperational Optical Intersatellite Links", Proc. SPIE 0885, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies, (2 May 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.976548

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