• DocumentCode
    3373584
  • Title

    Satellite laser communication with Brandon orbits

  • Author

    Christopher, Paul

  • Author_Institution
    PFC Assoc., Leesburg, VA, USA
  • fYear
    2011
  • fDate
    11-13 May 2011
  • Firstpage
    180
  • Lastpage
    189
  • Abstract
    We estimate worldwide zenith attenuation for 10 micron laser satellite communication systems. The attenuation may be lowered with the aid of switched ground diversity. However, real satellite systems tend to sharply raise the attenuation with low elevation angles and long atmospheric path lengths. Brandon Molniya satellite concepts are expected to give good worldwide laser satellite performance. Four Brandon satellite replacements for geostationary systems are emphasized. The Brandon4 offers relatively low atmospheric attenuation north of 40N, and it allows laser communications to be considered.
  • Keywords
    diversity reception; satellite communication; Brandon Molniya satellite; attenuation; laser communication; laser satellite communication system; switched ground diversity; zenith attenuation; Antennas; Joints; Switches;
  • fLanguage
    English
  • Publisher
    ieee
  • Conference_Titel
    Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS), 2011 International Conference on
  • Conference_Location
    Santa Monica, CA
  • Print_ISBN
    978-1-4244-9686-0
  • Type

    conf

  • DOI
    10.1109/ICSOS.2011.5783664
  • Filename
    5783664