Name of Group | 5.10 Optical Communications Working Group |
Area | Space Link Services Area (SLS) |
Chairperson | Bernard Edwards |
Chairperson E-Mail Address | bernard.l.edwards@nasa.gov |
Chairperson Agency | NASA |
Deputy Chairperson | Clemens Heese |
Deputy Chairperson E-Mail Address | clemens.heese@esa.int |
Deputy Chairperson Agency | ESA |
Mailing List | sls-opt@mailman.ccsds.org |
Scope of Activity | Standardization in the field of Optical Communications in space addressing:
• The physical layer, including modulation and link acquisition
• The coding, and synchronization sublayer of the Data Link Layer
• Ancillary information needed for optical communications, e.g. weather and atmospheric data
Coordination within the SLS area and within CCSDS for matters pertaining to optical communications will be conducted.
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Rationale for Activity | Space Agencies intend to extend their portfolio of interoperable space communications into the optical domain covering space-Earth and space-space links. Optical communications systems that have to operate through Earth’s atmosphere can be severely impacted. The result is that a typical spacecraft has to be supported by several optical communications ground stations to overcome atmospheric link outages. Standards for space-space links will allow the sharing of space assets, e.g. relay satellites.
This CCSDS Working Group will develop standards that can be applied by the space agencies for space optical communications interoperability and optical cross support.
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Goals | Free space optical communications standards shall be developed only to the extent necessary to ensure interoperability and cross-support.
The working group will develop standards for the modulation, coding, interleaving, synchronization, and acquisition of optical communications signals. This working group will also define the physical parameters that should be collected and shared between ground stations via existing CCSDS cross support services.
The goals are listed hereafter.
1. Blue Book for Optical Communications Physical Layer for the scenarios High Photon Efficiency (HPE) and Low Complexity (LC)
2. Blue Book for Optical Communications Coding & Synchronization for the scenarios High Photon Efficiency (HPE) and Low Complexity (LC)
3. Green Book for Optical communications concepts and terminologies
4. Green Book for Real-Time Weather and Atmospheric Characterization Data
5. Green Book for optical communications physical layer and coding and synchronization sublayer
6. Magenta Book(s) for Real-Time Weather and Atmospheric Characterization Data
7. Orange Book(s) on Optical Communications Physical Layer and Coding & Synchronization for the scenario High Date Rate (HDR) .
Coordination with SLS-C&S and SLS-RFM for weather data needed for optical communication and VCM/ACM in the 26GHz band in order to prevent duplication of effort or incompatibilities in envisaged.
Moreover, depending on the techniques that will be standardized for low and high signal photon flux, the Working Group will analyze the need of a Magenta Book for Optical Communications Profiles.
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Survey of Similar Standards Efforts Undertaken in
Other Bodies and elsewhere in CCSDS | The Optical Link Study Group performed a study and issued a report, which supports this standardization work.
There is no similar work undertaken in other bodies and relevant to CCSDS that the BOF members are aware of.
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Patent Licensing Applicability for Future Standards | The current WG participants know of no limitations at this stage on usage of the planned technologies as far as patent restrictions or licensing requirements are concerned. |
Technical Risk Mitigation Strategy | No technical risks have been identified by the BOF at this stage. |
Management Risk Mitigation Strategy | The schedule is very dependent upon space agencies commitment of resources and on the success of several optical communications demonstration missions. |
