Engineering Planetary Lasers for Interstellar Communication N 93-I 4010 (original) (raw)

Interplanetary and interstellar optical communication between intelligent beings: a historical approach

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum II, SPIE Proceedings, 1996

A review of the different proposals made to establish contact with hypothetical neighbors is presented. For almsot 100 years (1822-1921) the dominant paradigm for signaling extraterrestrial beings, was based on the exchange of light nbeam signals. After the success of wireless transatlantic communications and the discovery of radio signals from the cosmos, the main scientific proposals to contact extraterrestrials were based on radio waves. Nevertheless, the development of lasers and other non-linear optical devices, led into a new set of proposals to use them for intreplanetary and interstellar communication means. A review of these proposals and the detection of extraterrestrial technological activities in the optical domain is made. A summary of the requirements need to explore the astrophysics of shortest timescales is described, in order to develop the nano and sub-nanosecond detectors that could be used to discover interstellar pulsed laser signals.

Optical and microwave communications system conceptual design for a realistic interstellar probe

Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging II, 2002

The concept of a realistic interstellar explorer has been addressed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) with support from the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC). This paper discusses the requirements, conceptual design and technology issues associated with the optical and RF communications systems envisioned for this mission, in which the spacecraft has a projected range of 1000 AU. Well before a range of 100 AU interactive control of the spacecraft becomes nearly impossible, necessitating a highly autonomous craft and one-way communications to Earth. An approach is taken in which the role of the optical downlink is emphasized for data transfer and that of the microwave uplink emphasized for commands. The communication system is strongly influenced by the large distances involved, the high velocities (20 AU/year or ~ 95 km/s) as well as the requirements for low-mass (~ 10 kg), low prime power (~ 15 W), reliability, and spacecraft autonomy. An optical terminal concept is described that has low mass and prime power in a highly integrated and novel architecture, but new technologies are needed to meet the range, mass, and power requirements. These include high-power, "wall-plug" efficient diode-pumped fiber lasers; compact, lightweight, and low-power micro-electromechanical (MEM) beam steering elements; and lightweight diffractive quasi-membrane optics. In addition, a very accurate star tracking mechanism must be fully integrated with the laser downlink to achieve unprecedented pointing accuracy (~ 400 nrad RMS). The essential optical, structural, mechanical, and electronic subsystems are described that meet the mission requirements, and the key features of advanced technologies that need to be developed are discussed. The conclusion from this preliminary effort is that an optical communications downlink out to 1000 astronomical units (AU) is within the realm of technical feasibility in the next 5-10 years if the identified technical risks for the new technologies can be retired.

Interstellar Communication Techniques for Long Range Mission Spacecraft

We are presently on the verge of expanding our technology in the outer solar system environment. Voyager 1 has landed its first step outside the hemisphere. Data transfer at large distances of astronomical units and light years is a challenging matter of research and a key issue of the interstellar communication. If robotic instruments are sent aboard interstellar spaceflights, managing them from earth with a definite time lag is a puzzle of its own kind. However artificial intelligence can come out to as a great tool in the future for missions beyond and far from the solar system. For such interstellar medium missions, we need to develop appropriate technology to recover the data from Earth from very large astronomical distances. Assuming that such high velocity unmanned robotic spacecrafts are a nearby possibility, we look into this problem in detail and try to explore the related fields which can help in upgrading the present level of interplanetary space communication. Data transfer has to be efficient with a minimum amount of data loss in travelling long distance in the space particularly the interstellar medium. Properties of interstellar medium can be studied closely in such missions that will carry advanced space based sensors, detectors and scientific instruments for taking measurements during the mission. Such a data can be analyzed by onboard computers and also be sent to earth with minimum possible attenuation due to the effect of large distances in the interstellar medium. Advanced data encryption methods and holographic techniques can be studied in details to shortlist the advanced onboard data-sending instruments technology. This paper discusses these in detail and the inception of appropriate protocols for dealing with these issues

Evaluation of deep-space laser communication under different mission scenarios

Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XXIV, 2012

A number of space agencies, including NASA, are considering free-space laser communications as a means for returning higher data-rates from future space missions. In this paper, potential deep-space missions are evaluated to show that with optical communication a 10× increase relative to state-of-the art telecommunication systems could be achieved. The maximum deep-space distance where ground transmitted laser beacons could assist acquisition and tracking; and operating points where optical communication performance degrades faster than the inverse square distance are also discussed.

The interstellar communication relay

International Journal of Astrobiology, 2020

The paper describes the architecture for a data repository and distribution system to be used in the case of a SETI detection event. This system is conceptually modelled after the Deep Space Network, although the hardware and infrastructure involved are different and substantially less expensive to operate. The system is designed to accommodate a large number of users from a variety of fields who wish to contribute to the analysis and comprehension effort that would follow the detection of an information-bearing signal.

NASA Space Laser Communications System

2020

Bidirectional space communication is a fundamental prerequisite for maintaining contact with objects performing missions in space, whether manned and unmanned. Until recently, it relied solely on the propagation of electromagnetic waves (the radio) using frequency bands dedicated for objects outside the Earth's atmosphere. However, modern space technologies are subject to ongoing development as they are being fitted with advanced communication systems. Given the constant enhancement of our technological capabilities, the traditional radio-based communication shows a glaring inadequacy and contributes to the widening of a gap between this and the high technology of on-board devices installed on modern spacecraft. The technology that complies with the up-to-date requirements of space communication is optical space communication. It is expected to provide for high-speed data transfer and increase the bandwidth several times, while ensuring immunity to common cyber threats, includin...

Inter-satellite laser communication system

2008 International Conference on Computer and Communication Engineering, 2008

(2008) Lakshmi, Kumar. 2008 International Conference on Computer and Communication Engineering. Read by researchers in: 50% Materials Science, 50% Engineering. Laser communication links in space are attractive alternatives to present-day microwave links. This ...

Interstellar transmitter Concept

A simple operating principle (similar to a combination of a pottery wheel and a catapult or, simply, the weapon used by David to slay Goliath) coupled with the success of some moderate engineering challenges may allow for the transmission of a carrier wave from Earth to Mars in less than one second!This paper also directly addresses the controversy of light speed variance/invariance (which has arisen from the "wave/particle nature of light" debate) by referencing Joseph A. Rybczyk's