Laser communication in space

The use of lasers for telecommunications in space. It is an application of laser communications and visible light communication.

Two solar-powered satellites communicating optically in space via lasers

In outer space, the communication range of free-space optical communication^[1] is currently of the order of several thousand kilometers,^[2] but has the potential to bridge interplanetary distances of millions of kilometers, using optical telescopes as beam expanders.^[3]

Demonstrations

In November 2001 the worlds first laser data connection was achieved in space between the European Space Agency Artemis satellite providing an optical data transmission link with the CNES Earth observation satellite SPOT 4.^[4]

In November 2014 the first ever gigabit laser-based communication was achieved by ESA and called the European Data Relay System (EDRS).^[5] Now demonstrated the fully completed geostationary EDRS system supporting permanent and high data transfers for low earth orbit weather satellites and many other systems is expected to be in place in the 2016-2017 time frame.^[6][7]

The successful OPALS experiment

NASA's OPALS announced a breakthrough in space-to-ground laser communication December 9, 2014, uploading 175 megabytes in 3.5 seconds. The system is also able to re-acquire tracking after the signal is lost due to cloud cover.^[8]

In January 2013, NASA used lasers to beam an image of the Mona Lisa to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter roughly 390,000 km (240,000 mi) away. To compensate for atmospheric interference, an error correction code algorithm similar to that used in CDs was implemented.^[9]

The distance records for optical communications involved detection and emission of laser light by space probes. A two-way distance record for communication was set by the Mercury laser altimeter instrument aboard the MESSENGER spacecraft. This diode-pumped infrared neodymium laser, designed as a laser altimeter for a Mercury orbit mission, was able to communicate across a distance of 24 million km (15 million miles), as the craft neared Earth on a fly-by in May, 2005. The previous record had been set with a one-way detection of laser light from Earth, by the Galileo probe, as two ground-based lasers were seen from 6 million km by the out-bound probe, in 1992.^[10]

Flight tests

Depiction of the optical module of the LLCD

• In 2008 ESA used laser communication technology designed to transmit 1.8 Gbit/s across 45,000 km, the distance of a LEO-GEO link. Such a terminal was successfully tested during an in-orbit verification using the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X and the American NFIRE satellite.^[11]

• A laser communication system was one of four science instruments launched with the NASA Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission on 7 Sept 2013. After a month-long transit to the Moon, and a 40-day spacecraft checkout, the laser comm experiments were performed over three months during late 2013 to early 2014.^[12] Initial data returned from the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) equipment on LADEE set a space communication bandwidth record in October 2013 when early tests using a pulsed laser beam to transmit data over the 385,000 kilometres (239,000 mi) between the Moon and Earth passed data at a "record-breaking download rate of 622 megabits per second (Mbps)",^[13] and also demonstrated an error-free data upload rate of 20 Mbps from an Earth ground station to LADEE in Lunar orbit. The LLCD is NASA's first attempt at two-way space communication using an optical laser instead of radio waves, and is expected to lead to operational laser systems on NASA satellites in future years.^[13]

• Laser communication has also been demonstrated on aircraft and high altitude platforms. Applications can be found in the transmission of large data amounts directly from an aircraft (e.g. an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle UAV) to the ground or in the interconnection of stratospheric platforms to build up high-performance backbone networks.^[14] A laser link from a jet platform Tornado was successfully demonstrated for the first time in November 2013. A laser terminal of the German company ViaLight Communications was used to transmit data at a rate of 1Gbit/s over a distance of 60 km and at a flight speed of 800 km/h. Additional challenges in this scenario were the fast flight maneuvers, strong vibrations, and the effects of atmospheric turbulence. The demonstration was financed by EADS Cassidian Germany and performed in cooperation with the German Aerospace Center DLR.^[15][16][17]

• Further system- and operational service demonstrations were carried out in 2014. Data from the EU Sentinel-1A satellite in LEO was transmitted via an optical link to the ESA-Inmarsat Alphasat in GEO and then relayed to a ground station using a conventional Ka band downlink. The new system can offer speeds up to 7.2 Gbit/s.^[18]

Missions

Space probe design concept using optical rather than radio communication

• The OPALS experiment was launched on 18 April 2014 to the ISS to further test the potential for using a laser to transmit data to Earth from space.^[19]

• Proposed payload for the Phobos And Deimos & Mars Environment (PADME) orbiter.^[20]

• Engineers of the Asteroid Redirect Mission contemplate in its early conceptual phase to make use of laser communications.^[21]

Secure communications

Secure communications have been proposed using a laser N-slit interferometer where the laser signal takes the form of an interferometric pattern. Any attempt to intercept the signal causes the collapse of the interferometric pattern.^{[22] [23]} This technique has been demonstrated to work over propagation distances of practical interest^[24] and, in principle, it could be applied over large distances in space.^[22] Assuming available laser technology, and considering the divergence of the interferometric signals, the range for satellite-to-satellite communications has been estimated to be approximately 2000 km.^[25] These estimates are applicable to an array of satellites orbiting the Earth. For space vehicles or space stations, the range of communications is estimated to increase up to 10000 km.^[25] This approach to secure space-to-space communications was selected by Laser Focus World as one of the top photonics developments of 2015.^[26]

See also

• Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation
• European Data Relay System
• Free-space optical communication
• Laser Communications Relay Demonstration
• Lunar Laser Ranging experiment
• Mars Telecommunications Orbiter
• OPALS

References

1. Boroson, Don M. (2005), Optical Communications: A Compendium of Signal Formats, Receiver Architectures, Analysis Mathematics, and Performance Characteristics, retrieved 8 Jan 2013
2. "Another world first for Artemis: a laser link with an aircraft". European Space Agency. December 18, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
3. Steen Eiler Jørgensen (October 27, 2003). "Optisk kommunikation i deep space– Et feasibilitystudie i forbindelse med Bering-missionen" (PDF). Dansk Rumforskningsinstitut. Retrieved June 28, 2011. (Danish) Optical Communications in Deep Space, University of Copenhagen
4. "A worlds first". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
5. "First image download over new gigabit laser connection in space". Retrieved 3 Dec 2014.
6. "Over 30 years of uninterrupted growth" (PDF). eutelsat.com. Eutelsat. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
7. "Arianespace selected by Airbus Defence and Space to launch EDRS-C satellite". arianespace.com. Arianespace. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
8. Landau, Elizabeth (9 December 2014). "OPALS: Light Beams Let Data Rates Soar". Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA). Retrieved 18 December 2014.
9. Peckham, Matt (January 21, 2013). "NASA Beams Mona Lisa Image Into Space". TIME. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
10. "Space probe breaks laser record: A spacecraft has sent a laser signal to Earth from 24 million km (15 million miles) away in interplanetary space". BBC News. January 6, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
11. TerraSAR-X NFIRE test
12. Dunn, Marcia (2013-09-07). "NASA launches robotic explorer to moon from Va.; trouble develops early in much-viewed flight". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
13. Messier, Doug (2013-10-23). "NASA Laser System Sets Record with Data Transmissions From Moon". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
14. J. Horwath, M. Knapek, B. Epple, M. Brechtelsbauer (July 21, 2006). "Broadband Backhaul Communication for Stratospheric Platforms: The Stratospheric Optical Payload Experiment (STROPEX)" (PDF). SPIE.
15. Optical data link successfully demonstrated between fighter plane and ground station, Dec. 2013
16. Extreme Test for the ViaLight Laser Communication Terminal MLT-20 – Optical Downlink from a Jet Aircraft at 800 km/h, Dec. 2013
17. Laserkommunikation zwischen Jet und Bodenstation
18. "Laser link offers high-speed delivery". ESA. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
19. L. Smith, Stephanie; Buck, Joshua; Anderson, Susan (21 April 2014). "JPL Cargo Launched to Space Station". Jet PropulsionLaboratory (NASA). Retrieved 2014-04-22.
20. Reyes, Tim (1 October 2014). "Making the Case for a Mission to the Martian Moon Phobos". Universe Today. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
21. Malik, Tariq (April 10, 2013). "Obama Seeks $17.7 Billion for NASA to Lasso Asteroid, Explore Space". Space.com. TechMediaNetwork. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
22. F. J. Duarte (May 2002). "Secure interferometric communications in free space". Optics Communications 205 (4): 313–319. Bibcode:2002OptCo.205..313D. doi:10.1016/S0030-4018(02)01384-6.
23. F. J. Duarte (January 2005). "Secure interferometric communications in free space: enhanced sensitivity for propagation in the metre range". Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics 7 (1). Bibcode:2005JOptA...7...73D. doi:10.1088/1464-4258/7/1/011.
24. F. J. Duarte, T. S. Taylor, A. M. Black, W. E. Davenport, and P. G. Varmette, N-slit interferometer for secure free-space optical communications: 527 m intra interferometric path length , J. Opt. 13, 035710 (2011).
25. F. J. Duarte and T. S. Taylor, Quantum entanglement physics secures space-to-space interferometric communications, Laser Focus World 51(4), 54-58 (2015).
26. J. Wallace, Technology Review: Top 20 technology picks for 2015 showcase wide scope of photonics advances, Laser Focus World 51(12), 20-30 (2015).

Further reading

• David G. Aviv (2006): Laser Space Communications, ARTECH HOUSE. ISBN 1-59693-028-4.