Abstract

The use of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (i.e., LASERs or lasers) by the U.S. Department of Defense is not new and includes laser weapons guidance, laser-aided measurements, and even lasers as weapons (e.g., Airborne Laser). Lasers in the support of telecommunications is also not new. The use of laser light in fiber optics has shattered thoughts on communications bandwidth and throughput. Even the use of lasers in space is no longer new. Lasers are being used for satellite-to-satellite crosslinking. Laser communication can transmit orders-of-magnitude more data using orders-of-magnitude less power and can do so with minimal risk of exposure to the sending and receiving terminals. What is new is using lasers as the uplink and downlink between the terrestrial segment and the space segment of satellite systems. More so, the use of lasers to transmit and receive data between moving terrestrial segments (e.g., ships at sea, airplanes in flight) and geosynchronous satellites is burgeoning. This manuscript examines the technological maturation of employing lasers as the signal carrier for satellite communications linking terrestrial and space systems. The purpose of the manuscript is to develop key performance parameters (KPPs) to inform the U.S. Department of Defense initial capabilities documents (ICDs) for near-future satellite acquisition and development. By appreciating the history and technological challenges of employing lasers, rather than traditional radio frequency sources for satellite uplink and downlink signal carriers, this manuscript recommends ways for the U.S. Department of Defense to employ lasers to transmit and receive high bandwidth, and large-throughput data from moving platforms that need to retain low probabilities of detection, intercept, and exploit (e.g., carrier battle group transiting to a hostile area of operations, unmanned aerial vehicle collecting over adversary areas). The manuscript also intends to identify commercial sector early-adopter fields and those fields likely to adapt to laser employment for transmission and receipt.

Highlights

  • The demand for data—raw facts—and its successful evolution to information—arranged in context—is growing, arguably at an exponential rate

  • In 2003, access for Operations ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and IRAQI FREEDOM had grown to thirty-two-hundred mega-bits per second

  • Laser communications could provide from ten to one-hundred times better data rates than radio, due to the higher bandwidth [3]. This manuscript examines the technological maturation of employing lasers as the signal carrier for satellite communications linking terrestrial and space systems

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Summary

Introduction

The demand for data—raw facts—and its successful evolution to information—. Arranged in context—is growing, arguably at an exponential rate. This is true for the civil, commercial, and security sectors (i.e., defense; the U.S Department of Defense). Civil space activities include those to explore space and advance human understanding; commercial activities are those where private companies and industries provide services with the intent of making a profit [1]. The U.S Department of Defense had access to ninety-nine mega-bits per second of bandwidth. In 2003, access for Operations ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and IRAQI FREEDOM had grown to thirty-two-hundred mega-bits per second.

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