Optical intersatellite links for military satellite communications

Line-of-sight communications links between satellites allow data to be transmitted directly from one satellite to another. The different types of links which can be implemented between satellites in geostationary orbit (GSO) and low Earth orbit (LEO), are illustrated. There are two main classes, interorbit links between LEO and GSO satellites, and intersatellite links (ISLs) between satellites which are both in GSO or LEO orbit. This paper is primarily concerned with ISLs between GSO satellites for military communications