Task six report: Spacecraft communication terminal evaluation

Abstract

An analytical comparison is made of space communication accomplished at six different wavelengths. In the radio band, 2.25, 7.5, and 14.5 GHz systems are analyzed, while at optical wavelengths, 0.53, 1.06 and 10.6 micron systems are examined. The purpose of the comparison is to determine which of these systems will require the least hardware weight to perform a given communication task. The problem is solved by requiring each communication system to meet a given performance while selecting combinations of transmitted power and antenna diameter to obtain the least overall system weight. This performance is provided while maintaining practical values for parameters other than antenna diameter and power, which also affect system performance. The results of the analysis indicate that for future data links over ranges of 42,000 to 84,000 km and with data bandwidths of 100 to 1000 MHz, the CO2 laser system will provide the required performance with the least total system weight impact on a spacecraft.