Exploring High Performance Design for Communications Links Supporting Exploration Programs
Dan Jackson · NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) · 2015
Future human extraterrestrial exploration programs demand reliable high data rate communications links over interplanetary distances. A game changing approach: polarization modulation to represent "qubits" that work to improve link reliability while meeting bandwidth demands Proposal for a test of the concept using the International Space Station Future Human Exploration Mission Objectives Mandate High Data Rate Communications Links Communications signal delays place a higher premium on each character in a radio transmission. Example: when Earth and Mars are in opposition, signal delays could last as long as 20 minutes. Radio relay satellites will be integral to maintaining a yearround communications link with a distant planetary operations base. The signal delay removes any mission control center from the realtime aspect of command and control. Control center becomes a data terminal, forwarding mission data to an operations base and capturing returned science data.