SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS MODERNIZING OF INTER-SATELLITE SYSTEMS BY LASER TECHNOLOGY

This paper involves analysis, optimization and design principles for mathematical and engineering models of subsystem and system level development of space borne and ground receiver free-space laser communication terminals communicating to and from distant planetary and Earth-orbiting spacecraft. Research opportunities in this area include development of laser beam acquisition, tracking and pointing techniques and algorithms, development of computer aided analysis link budget for the free space channel, systems engineering (analysis and design) of optical transmission development of high efficiency flight qualifiable solid-state lasers, fast fine-pointing mirrors high update-rate acquisition and tracking cameras and very low-noise high-quantum efficiency receiver. The problems of signal transfer between Earth-orbiting spacecraft and ground receiver (through the atmosphere) are included in the end of this paper.