ESA UNCLASSIFIED – For Internal Use
ESA Perspectives on Optical Communication
ESA
13 Jan 2012
ESA Perspectives on Optical Communication| Klaus-Juergen Schulz | ESA | 16 Apr 2012 | Page 1
ESA UNCLASSIFIED – For Internal Use
Disclaimer
 This is not an ESA consolidated opinion on how optical communication
should develop in ESA and Europe, but rather a status capture and how
next steps might look like
 It is not an ESA position paper for CCSDS standardisation
ESA Perspectives on Optical Communication| Klaus-Juergen Schulz | ESA | 16 Apr 2012 | Page 2
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Programmes Status
 ESA’s SILEX inter-satellite communication experiment (2001-2008),
performed between the ARTEMIS satellite in GEO and SPOT-4 in LEO,
demonstrated the feasibility of laser communication technology.
 DLR TerraSAR-X and the US DoD NFIRE satellites are demonstrating
inter-satellite communication. Although the laser communication
terminals use the same technology they cannot operate with TDP#1 on
Alphasat nor with EDRS (see below).
 ESA Alphasat will carry a DLR provided technology demonstration
payload (TDP#1), which will demonstrate data relay technology.
 ESA EDRS and EU/ESA Sentinels are under development with the aim to
create an operational optical Earth relay capability for the Sentinel series
of spacecraft (ISL: optical, Feeder Link: RF)
 ESA is developing an optical communication solution for small Earth
observation satellites in LEO to ground (Optel-µ).
 No other ESA program has so far embarked on optical communication,
neither using EDRS ISL, nor direct-to-Earth links
ESA Perspectives on Optical Communication| Klaus-Juergen Schulz | ESA | 16 Apr 2012 | Page 3
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Recent Spacecraft Communication System
Designs
 TTC and some science data
• S-band (LEO: all ESA EO S/C, GEO: EUMETSAT MSG, MTG)
• X-band (all ESA Science missions to L2: Herschel, Planck, Gaia; L1:
-; Sun orbit: Solo; Asteroid: Rosetta; Mercury: Bepi Colombo;
Venus: VEX; Mars: MEX, ExoMars)
 Today’s RF high rate payload data
• X-band (LEO: all ESA, CNES, DLR EO S/C)
 Future RF high rate payload data
• K-band (26 GHz) for near earth (LEO: EUMETSAT Metop-SG, GEO
Feeder Links: ESA EDRS, EUMETSAT MTG; Moon:-, L1:-, L2: ESA
Euclid)
• Ka-band (32 GHz) for deep space (Mercury: Bepi Colombo)
 Future optical Inter-Satellite Links
• EDRS and Sentinels
 Future optical Space-Earth Links
• NONE !
ESA Perspectives on Optical Communication| Klaus-Juergen Schulz | ESA | 16 Apr 2012 | Page 4
ESA UNCLASSIFIED – For Internal Use
Optical Communication: Next steps
 Optical Inter-Satellite Links: will become operational
• Cross support would be beneficial for more economical use of the
data relay capacity, but is not essential
 Optical space-Earth Links:
• Need to create “global” consensus that optical space-Earth
communication can make sense, offers new opportunities and is
technically feasible with controllable risk
- IOAG OLSG working group and final report should show this, at least for
some application scenarios
- Establish concept of “cross support” between space agencies also for
optical space-Earth communication, which mandates interoperable
implementations based on international standards (CCSDS)
- Demonstrate in-flight practical feasibility to convince future projects
– As demonstration opportunities are scarce -> enlarge demo
effect by international cooperation, e.g. ARTEMIS, OICETS,
TerraSAR-NFIRE, Ladee/LLCD
ESA Perspectives on Optical Communication| Klaus-Juergen Schulz | ESA | 16 Apr 2012 | Page 5
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Optical Communication: Next steps
 ESA / European consensus build-up
• Future ESA projects: Earth Observation Programme (EOP), Science
and Robotic Exploration (SRE), Human Spaceflight and Operations
(HSO)
• ESA Telecommunication and Integrated Applications (TIA): as
custodian of the telecom sector, and as manager of the Advanced
Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) programme
• ESA Inspector General
- Chairing the ESA Standardisation Board -> potential CCSDS Optical WG
• European National Space Agencies: ASI, CNES, DLR, UKSA
- as flying national missions
- as delegations to ESA
• European Industry
- via Eurospace representing European space industries
- individual industries active in the field
ESA Perspectives on Optical Communication| Klaus-Juergen Schulz | ESA | 16 Apr 2012 | Page 6
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Optical Communication: Next steps
 ESA Technology Preparation:
- Optical Communication Harmonisation Roadmap update
- Optical Communication Space and Ground Technology Roadmap
- Within the TECNET process
• TEC for onboard terminals
- TRL assessment by space communication terminal subsystem and
application scenario (part of an ESA study, currently under tender)
• HSO for ground terminals
- TRL assessment by ground communication terminal subsystem and
application scenario (part of an ESA study, currently under tender)
– High performing receivers
– Low cost large apertures
 In-flight Technology Demonstration (ESA: e.g. based on Optel-m,
Sentinel space-Earth ?, and cooperative missions)
 First ESA mission to apply operationally optical space-Earth
communication
ESA Perspectives on Optical Communication| Klaus-Juergen Schulz | ESA | 16 Apr 2012 | Page 7