High-rate optical communications links for virtual presence in space

As man continues the exploration of space, either from platforms in Earth-orbit or from missions to the bodies of our solar system, there will be an on-going need to keep the public engaged in the process so that the general populace can share in the excitement of discovery and the inquisitive (professional or student) can participate in the data mining. To do this will require the development of high-data-rate communications links for data return and dissemination. However, the cost constraints on future missions will require that these high-rate links be smaller and lighter-weight than even the lower-capacity systems that have been used in the past. NASA has been developing free-space optical communications technology for just such missions. This paper will discuss the technology developments and system demonstrations that have been accomplished to date, and will describe preparations for the space demonstrations that will validate the performance of this new technology.