This paper describes an earth orbiting Deep Space Relay Satellite System (DSRSS) based on optical direct detection communication for the user spacecraft to DSRS link. The optical direct detection DSRSS is considered as a possible augmentation to the Deep Space Network (DSN), after the 70 meter antennas are upgraded to Ka Band near the turn of the century. While development is required, the extrapolation from current technology appears relatively straightforward, and the direct detection system appears capable of exceeding an order of magnitude improvement over the upgraded Ka Band DSN. For example, with a 75 cm aperture on the user spacecraft, the optical direct detection system provides a capability of 1.23 Mbps at Pluto, a 13 dB advantage over the upgraded DSN. The direct detection system can also provide 0.83 Mbps with a 60 cm user aperture, an 11 dB improvement.
This paper describes an earth orbiting Deep Space Relay Satellite System (DSRSS) based on optical coherent detection communication for the user spacecraft to DSRS link. The optical coherent detection DSRSS is considered as a possible augmentation to the Deep Space Network (DSN), after the 70 meter antennas are upgraded to Ka Band near the turn of the century. While significant development is required and technical complexity issues remain, the coherent optical system appears capable of achieving the desired order of magnitude improvement relative to the Ka Band DSN. For example, the coherent optical system provides a capability of 670 kbps at Pluto (40 A.U.), a 10.4 dB improvement over the upgraded DSN.
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