Comparative Study of Optical and Radio-Frequency Communication Systems for a Deep-Space Mission

Download or read book Comparative Study of Optical and Radio-Frequency Communication Systems for a Deep-Space Mission written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-30 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We have performed a study on telecommunication systems for a hypothetical mission to Mars. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the benefits that microwave-X-band (8.4 GHz) and Ka-band (32 GHz) - and optical communications technologies a afford to future missions. The telecommunication systems were required to return data after launch and in orbit at 2.7 AU with daily data volumes of 0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 Gbits (Gb). Spacecraft terminals capable of delivering each of the three data volumes were proposed and characterized in terms of mass, power consumption, size, and cost. The estimated parameters for X-band, Ka-band, and optical frequencies are compared and presented here. For all cases, the optical light terminal exhibits about 60 percent of the mass of the corresponding radio frequency (RF) subsystem. Power consumption is comparable for all three technologies at a 0.1 Gb/day data volume, but the power required at either Ka-band or optical is less than half of the X-band requirement at 10 Gb/day. These benefits can be obtained only with a suitable investment in reception facilities for Ka-band or optical frequencies. Hemmati, H. and Wilson, K. and Sue, M. K. and Harcke, L. J. and Wilhelm, M. and Chen, C.-C. and Lesh, J. and Feria, Y. and Rascoe, D. and Lansing, F. Jet Propulsion Laboratory ...