Inter Satellite Links

In outer space the communication range of free space optical communication is currently of the order of several thousand kilometers suitable for inter satellite service it has the potential to bridge interplanetary distances of millions of kilometers using optical telescopes as beam expanders.

Inter satellite links. A continuous link is required for voice communication or safety related and thus mission critical applications. The 2nd generation of the european gnss galileo which will be launched around 2022 considers the use of both radio frequency and optical isls for ranging and low band width. Optical inter satellite links isl are the best technology for the next generation of the galileo navigation system a tde activity t617 501mm has shown. Laser communication in space is free space optical communication in outer space.

Leosat s system using inter satellite laser links for commercial communications is a departure from existing solutions today pairing the speed of fiber with the ubiquity of satellite. Instead of inter satellite links oneweb s network will use more than 40 gateways around the world each capable of seeing satellites up to 4 000 kilometers away according to oneweb. The kepler satellites carry an optical resonator a frequency comb and terminals for two way optical inter satellite links the latter links are the basis for time and frequency transfer within the constellation providing the most precise synchronization that has ever been achieved amongst navigation satellites. Inter satellite links isl are essential to connect satellites operating in a constellation.

If these isls could manage high data rates in gigabit per seconds the network becomes a broadband connectivity services. Isl can drastically reduce the data forwarding latency especially for small constellations. Oppenhaeuser in orbit test result of an operational inter satellite link between artemis and spot 4 in proc. Inter satellite radiocommunication service is according to article 1 22 of the international telecommunication union s itu radio regulations rr defined as a radiocommunication service providing links between artificial satellites.

Optical inter satellite links are one of the most critical technologies required to be demonstrated for tranche 0 the space development agency said in a request for proposals issued last month for its communications constellation known at the transport layer. Tranche 0 is the initial deployment planned for 2022.