The Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology has started the development of a novel optical ground station that will be able to support satellite-to-ground links for both geostationary and low-Earth orbit satellites. The design includes some of the main concepts in current standardization efforts that are taking place in the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems. Different design issues have been discussed together with mission specifics and design solutions.

Chapter Contents:

• 42.1 Introduction
• 42.2 Compatibility with different missions in the proposed solution
• 42.2.1 Beacons and uplink
• 42.2.2 Optical bench changes for different missions
• 42.3 Developed solution
• 42.3.1 Uplink precompensation for ground-to-GEO missions
• 42.3.2 Final solution and laboratory test results
• 42.4 Conclusion
• References

Inspec keywords: satellite ground stations; ground support systems; artificial satellites; space communication links

Other keywords: low-Earth orbit satellites; Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology; geostationary satellites; satellite-to-ground links; GEOand LEO-to-ground links; current standardization efforts; novel optical ground station; Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems

Subjects: Free-space optical links; Satellite communication systems; Space communication systems