Advanced Space Laser Communication Technology on CubeSats

doi:10.12142/ZTECOM.202004007

ZTE Communications ›› 2020, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (4): 45-54.DOI: 10.12142/ZTECOM.202004007

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Advanced Space Laser Communication Technology on CubeSats

LI Li, ZHANG Xuejiao(), ZHANG Jianhua, XU Changzhi, JIN Yi

China Academy of Space Technology, Xi’an 710001, China

Received:2020-10-26 Online:2020-12-25 Published:2021-01-13
About author:LI Li is a professor and the associate president of China Academy of Space Technology (Xi’an), China. His current research interests include satellite communication and network.|ZHANG Xuejiao (zxjhope@126.com) received the Ph.D. degree from Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechnics(SIOM), Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), China. She is an engineer in China Academy of Space Technology (Xi’an), China. Her current research interests include satellite laser communication and novel optoelectronic components.|ZHANG Jianhua is a professor of China Academy of Space Technology (Xi’an), China. His current research interests include satellite communication, laser communication and software-defined radio system.|XU Changzhi is currently persuing the Ph.D. degree at the State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, Southeast University, China. He is a senior engineer in China Academy of Space Technology (Xi’an), China. His current research interests include satellite communication, laser communication and software-defined radio system.|JIN Yi received the Ph.D. degree in communication and information engineering from Southeast University, China. He is a senior engineer in China Academy of Space Technology (Xi’an), China. His current research interests include satellite communication and network.

Abstract

Abstract:

The free space optical communication plays an important role in space-terrestrial integrated network due to its advantages including great improvement of data rate performance, low cost, security enhancement when compared with conventional radio frequency (RF) technology. Meanwhile, CubeSats become popular in low earth orbit (LEO) network because of the low cost, fast response and the possibility of constituting constellations and formations to execute missions that a single large satellite cannot do. However, it is a difficult task to build an optical communication link between the CubeSats. In this paper, the cutting-edge laser technology progress on the CubeSats is reviewed. The characters of laser link on the CubeSat and the key techniques in the laser communication terminal (LCT) design are demonstrated.

Key words: space laser communication, laser communication terminal, CubeSat

LI Li, ZHANG Xuejiao, ZHANG Jianhua, XU Changzhi, JIN Yi. Advanced Space Laser Communication Technology on CubeSats[J]. ZTE Communications, 2020, 18(4): 45-54.

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