SHS Web of Conferences 144, 02013 (2022) https://doi.org/10.

1051/shsconf/202214402013
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Analysis of Optical Satellite Communication Technology and Its

Development Trend
*
Wenyi Fu
School of Communication Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Weihai Campus, Weihai, Shandong, China 264401

ABSTRACT: As the demand for information and high data transmitting rate is becoming increasingly crucial,
modern communication technology has attached more significance to optical satellite communication study.
This paper will mainly concentrate on the development trend of optical satellite communication technology.
Firstly, this technology will be introduced with its basic system illustration and block diagram. Moreover, the
key technologies will be demonstrated, including optics, signal processing, Acquisition, Tracking, Pointing
(ATP) and mechanics. In the final section, a comparison between optical satellites and other communication
technologies will be conducted to analyze the future tendency of satellite communication. As shown, it will
be fused with 5G technology; also, it might develop in the direction of realizing terminal device
miniaturization, space-air-ground integrated network (SAGIN) and intelligent optical satellite communication.
Finally, free-space optical (FSO) communication will be of great benefit to humans, as it can bring
convenience, enhance communication efficiency and boom the economy. Therefore, scientists should take
optical satellite communication technology more seriously and do more research concerning it, helping people
live better lives.

circumstance, the trend can be clear to make human life

more convenient. This paper will adopt the method of
1. INTRODUCTION doing a survey on different optical satellite
The increasing demand for information in modern society communication technology and current dilemmas in order
promotes the development of modern communication to invent more advanced devices so that humans can
technology in the direction of wideband and high speed, benefit from high-speed communication to enhance life
leading to the fact that communication frequency bands quality. This type of communication technology will be
are continuously modified to a higher frequency band, and compared to other kinds to summarize the advantages and
eventually to the light wave band. Furthermore, due to disadvantages, analyzing the trend. Additionally, several
wider coverage of satellite communication, it has become optical satellite communication development tendencies
increasingly vital in the modern communication research will be concluded to be conducive to further study.
realm. In the year of 2008, Germany's new generation of
high-resolution radar satellite TerraSAR-X and the United 2. OPTICAL SATELLITE
States near field Infrared experimental satellite NFIRE COMMUNICATION
have successfully carried out a two-way optical
communication test with a rate of 5.625Gbit/s. In 2011,
the Optical communication terminal and optical ground 2.1. Optical Satellite Communication
station on the Haiyang-2 satellite successfully carried out Introduction
a satellite-earth link optical communication test, which
was the first satellite-earth optical communication test in Optical satellite communication is defined as
China. [21] Owing to the high demand for high-speed data communication through the light which carries
transmitting rate, low power consumption and flexible information between satellites or between satellites and
link connection, the future direction of optical satellite the ground. [1] The optical system consists of the light
communication should be taken into consideration. Thus, source, transmitting, receiving and capturing subsystems.
it is inevitable that satellite communication will be [2]
playing a vital role in human communication. In this

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
SHS Web of Conferences 144, 02013 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202214402013
STEHF 2022

Figure 1 Optical satellite communication system [2]

As shown in Figure 1, it can be concluded that is categorized into inter-satellite link (ISL) (containing
communication signals processed by baseband, GSO-GSO, LEO-LEO) and inter-orbit link (IOL)
encryption and modulation will be sent through optical (containing GEO-LEO). [3] High orbit GEO satellite has
antennas and received by optical receiving antennas. a wide range of coverage, which makes 3 GEO satellites
Finally, the optical impulse modulated signals will be covering the whole Earth possible. Thus, it is stated that
detected and demodulated into the signals that carry the the high orbit GEO optical satellite, acting like the relay
messages, realizing full-duplex optical communication. satellite of the LEO optical satellite, mainly constructs the
Additionally, optical satellite communication can be connection with the ground optical stations, which
divided into satellite-satellite and satellite-ground optical eventually produces space-earth integration optical
communication, and intersatellite optical communication communication network. [4]

Figure 2 Satellites distribution [5]

multidisciplinary research, concerning optics, mechanics,

mathematics and computer science. Figure 3 has shown
2.2. Optical Satellite Communication Key
the system of optical satellite communication link
Technology
transmission.
Optical satellites communication technology is a

Figure 3 Optical satellite communication system key technology [6]

requirements of optical satellite communication. As

satellite communication possesses long-distance,
2.2.1. Optics Technology
approximately 40,000 kilometers per single trip, ground
It is shown in Figure 3 that optical key technology is and satellite stations have to produce lasers to obtain
consisting of a high-power optical source and high-quality emission power high enough to reach other stations. [3]
optical system design. Moreover, a high-quality optical system design contains
Super high-speed data transmission is one of the prior two main cores, wavelength selection and optical path

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design. Power loss through the atmosphere, the influence with Suppressed Carrier (DSB-CB), Single Side Band
of solar radiation and responsiveness under that (SSB), Vestigial Side Band (VSB), etc. and non-linear
wavelength should be taken into consideration during the modulation, having strong anti-interference performance,
determination of wavelength. Thus, with all those factors, includes Frequency Modulation (FM), Frequency Shift
scientists have determined to study wavelengths of 800nm, Keying (FSK), Phase Shift Keying (PSK), Differential
1000nm, and 1500nm, corresponding to the Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) and etc. Optical satellite
semiconductor lasers, solid lasers and fiber lasers. communication is capable of supporting various binary
Additionally, the wavelength of 1550nm, 850nm and and multi-level modulation formats, of which binary is the
10,000nm is used in ground-satellite links, according to easiest and most effective one. On-Off Keying (OOK) and
weather and atmospheric turbulence conditions. [6] In Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) are the two most
conclusion, wavelength determination and design depend common approaches. It is suggested that the adaptive
on transmission type, transmission environment and threshold of OOK can achieve the best weakening effect
service request. under turbulent atmospheric conditions. [8]
Furthermore, another core technology of optics is Moreover, as proven, the main noise originates from
optical path design, of which the most vital section is solar radiation and the radiation intensity decreases when
optical antenna design, for the reason that optical signals the wavelength increases. In order to suppress the
are sent and received by those antennas in satellite background noise, the technology of spatial filtering and
communication links. Nevertheless, traditional optical signal modulation is applied. The design of wave filters
path design cannot satisfy the miniaturization trend, due should consider a variety of factors, including signal
to the disadvantages of large volume and heavyweight. reaching angle, doppler frequency shift laser width and
Hence, a type of integrated optical antenna was invented, the number of time patterns. [9] One of the most common
which can be adapted into small laser communication approaches is Multi-Pulse Position Modulation (MPPM),
satellites. These antennas were designed on a silicon-on- which is currently combined with other formats of
insulator (SOI) having two different optical couplers (OC). modulation to enhance transmission efficiency. For
[7] instance, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)
combined with MPPM can be applied with no turbulence
and gamma-gamma Free-Space Optical (FSO) channels
2.2.2. Signal Processing Technology
to reduce Bit Error Rate (BER). [10]
There are mainly two parts to signal processing
technology: modem technology and background noise 2.2.3. ATP Technology
suppression technology.
Modem technology is comprised of modulation and Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing (ATP) is the
demodulation. Modulation is using baseband signal to foundation of long-distance spatial optical
control the change of one or several parameters of the communication, especially the core technology of
carrier signal and form modulated signal transmission satellite-to-ground links. Figure 4 has shown the
with information loaded on it. Demodulation is the rudimentary construction of the ATP system. A gimbal is
reverse process of modulation, as the original baseband capable of rotating in numerous directions, for a wide
signal will be recovered from the change of parameters of pointing range directing the light beam to the receiving
modulated signal through specific methods. Modulation is terminal and obtaining coming optical signal from the
divided into linear and non-linear. Linear modulation sending terminal is required in ground-to-satellite and
includes Amplitude Modulation (AM), Double Side Band satellite-to-satellite FSO communication. [11]

Figure 4 ATP system construction

Due to the vital role of the ATP system in FSO ground stations. [12]
communication, ATP technology is the main factor
determining whether the data transmission is successful.
2.2.4 Mechanics Technology
Therefore, it has been highly paid attention to by scientists
globally. To take Arvizu as an example, he has established Device manufacturing is required to have the property of
an ATP system prototype of optical quantum spatial adaptability in a bid to reduce the negative effects
communication links between CubeSat and optical of the spatial environment. Mechanical technology

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mainly includes mirror surface performance protection, communication branching and coupling are not flexible.
mechanical components anti-cold welding, amplifier anti- Another communication technology is RF. RF is
radiation technology, etc. With the increasement of radiofrequency current, short for high frequency
miniaturized LEO satellites, optical satellite alternating electromagnetic waves. When the frequency
communication is transforming into the development of of an electromagnetic wave is higher than 100kHz, the
high data rate, low power consumption, ministration and electromagnetic wave can spread in the air and be
low cost. reflected by the ionosphere at the outer edge of the
atmosphere, forming long-distance transmission. Such
high-frequency electromagnetic waves with long-distance
3. CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCE OF transmission capability can be named RF. RF
DEVELOPMENT OF OPTICAL communication, applying radio frequency to transmit
SATELLITE COMMUNICATION information, is a kind of wireless communication. It has
TECHNOLOGY the property of multi-direction. However, owing to the
fact that microwave possesses high frequency and short
wavelength, it may be obstructed by mountains or
3.1. Comparison Between Optical Satellite buildings, then weakening the signal, which might finally
Communication Technology and other affect the transmission quality. Furthermore, transmitting
Communication Technology in the air, the microwave is susceptible to other
interference, as the same frequency cannot be used in the
There are mainly three common types of communication
same circuit in the same direction. Consequently, there
currently, optical fiber communication, radio frequency
should be a department established to manage wireless
(RF) communication and optical satellite communication.
communication.
Optical fiber communication is a communication
Therefore, optical satellite communication is coming
mode in which light wave is used as an information carrier
into the stage of being studied by scientists. With the
and the optical fiber is used as a transmission medium. [13]
advantages of wide range, robustness to terrestrial
Despite the advantages of great capacity, long-distance
catastrophe, multiple access properties and flexible circuit
transmission, small-signal crosstalk and electromagnetic
setting, optical satellite communication is more likely to
interference resistance, it has a vulnerable texture, as the
be convenient for humans. It is shown in figure 5 that
optical can only be bent with a small curvature (the radius
optical communication has smaller antennas, lighter mass
should be greater than 20 centimeters). Moreover, the
and lower power. Thus, it has better performance than RF
cutting and connecting of optical fibers require a certain
communication.
type of devices and technology; also, optical fiber

Figure 5 Comparison between optical and RF communication systems with transmit power of 10, 50, and 20 W for optical, Ka and
millimeter band systems, respectively. [14]

In the figure above, the values in parentheses are Atmospheric attenuation refers to the weakening of signal
normalized to the optical parameters. energy caused by the absorption and scattering of light
beam by the atmosphere. Absorption is caused by the
absorptive action of light by water vapor, carbon dioxide,
3.2. Optical Satellite Communication Technology
ozone molecules. There are three main solutions to
Current Problems
overcome atmospheric attenuation, selecting wavelength
placed in atmospheric window with high transmittance,
3.2.1. Atmospheric Factors enhancing output power of the lasers and increasing
sensitivity of the receivers. In addition, to overcome the
The influence of atmosphere on FSO communication is dilemma of beam flickering, diffusion and bending, the
mainly manifested in two aspects, atmospheric area of receiving antenna can be increased and adaptive
attenuation and beam flickering, diffusion and bending. optics technology at both ends of transmitting and

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receiving can be applied. [15] 3.3.1. Fusion of Satellite and 5G

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has
3.2.2. Anti-interference Technology proposed four application scenarios of satellite-to-ground
5G fusion, including relay station, cell call-back, satcom
Satellite communication is vulnerable to certain human
on the move (SOTM) and Hybrid multicast scenarios, and
and natural factors, which can negatively affect
proposed supportive key factors, compatibility of
transmission quality or even make signals disappear. As a
Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software
result, research on satellite communication interference
Defined Network (SDN), Multicast support, Intelligent
factors and their resolutions should be conducted to
Routing Support, etc. [18]
reinforce optical satellite communication. One of the
technologies is the spread spectrum, the mainstream in
anti-interference technology. Based on different patterns, 3.3.2. Miniaturization
it can be categorized into a direct sequence (DS),
frequency-hopping (FH) and mixed, which is able to Space optical communication, with its advantages of high
realize encrypted satellite communication with large speed, small size, lightweight and low power
capacity, long-distance and low power. Another is on consumption, has become an indispensable and effective
board processing technology, decoupling up and approach to high-speed communication between satellites,
downlinks, which avoids the transponder being pushed to especially in the application of small satellites, reflecting
saturation. It mainly includes demodulation, encryption, the advantages of optical communication. Therefore,
speed change and multiple access multiplexing miniaturization of the optical satellite communication
conversion. Therefore, onboard processing technology is devices is of great significance in the future high data
an inevitable requirement for the future survival and transmission communication technology development,
development of optical satellite communication. [16] which can bring convenience and enhance efficiency. [20]

3.3. Optical Satellite Communication Technology 3.3.3. Space-air-ground Integrated Network

Tendency Analysis (SAGIN)

China, America, Europe and Japan have been studying SAGIN integrated satellite system, aviation system and
optical satellite communication for decades and numerous ground communication system. As shown in Figure 6, the
progress have been made in the direction of bringing network is consisting of GEO, MEO, LEO, airships and
humans more convenience in communication. For ground devices, which makes the integration of whole
instance, Thermo Trex first introduced Faraday communication networks possible.
Anomalous Dispersion Optical Filter (FADOF) into the
ATP system. [17]

Figure 6 SAGIN structure [19]

It is the development trend of future communication integration network of SAGIN mainly includes the
networks to build an integrated network framework of integration of system, terminal and application fusion.
SAGIN and realize the interconnection, complementarity System integration is to help the network layer protocol
and efficient coordination between SAGIN. The realize the interconnection of the whole network and

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