Space Applications of Optical Communications

Optical communication in Space is now a reality. In this paper we present the recent developments that were undertaken in Europe for this application. We first describe the different missions where optical communications are useful: Link between two geostationary satellites (GEO-GEO), Data Relay Mission (LEO-GEO) and High Data Rate Satellite Constellation Network. Then we detail the different candidate laser technologies from the most straightforward technologies that have been developed for optical fiber applications (λ = 1.55 μm) and 0.8 μm technology based on Silicon detector to the recent developments based on high power fiber amplifiers. In the last chapter we describe the SILEX (Semi conductor Intersatellite Link Experiment) program which performs optical communication between SPOT4 Earth observation satellite (CNES) and ARTEMIS (ESA). The excellent results based on 0.8 μm laser diode technology are considered to be a major milestone in optical intersatellite communication.