Current Activities and Status of the ESA/ESTEC-Industry Wireless Onboard Spacecraft Working Group

Commercial Wireless, both optical and RF have significant implications for the future of intra-spacecraft data handling as well as inter-instrument communications as applied in a planetary science context. This paper summarizes current Wireless WG activities underway to further define, refine and develop these technologies for space application, as well as broadening current understanding of the potential benefits of their use. Input from the space and commercial wireless industries, and academia to the ESTEC sponsored “Wireless Data Communications Onboard Spacecraft Workshop” of April 2003, plus investigations of TEC-EDD and the Wireless Onboard S/C WG activities and sub-group activities over the last year provide the basis for this paper.