A study of weather-dependent data links for deep space applications
P. D. Potter, Michael S. Shumate, C. T. Stelzried, Willard H. Wells · NASA Technical Reports Server (NASA) · 1969
The information data rate of deep space communication links used for spacecraft-to-earth purposes is always severely limited by the size and power capacity of the spacecraft itself.Present deep space communication links, utilizing S-band frequencies, have been improved to so high an efficiency that the information data rates obtainable cannot be increased significantly without attendant increases in spacecraft size.One solution to the problem of obtaining higher data rates is to operate the data link at frequencies higher than S-band.This report considers the operation of a reliable deep space communication link at such frequencies in the presence of weather disturbances, and presents a comparison of five potential systems: two microwave (X-band and mm-band) and three laser bands (10 pm, 4 pm, and near visible).The advantages and disadvantages of each of these systems are discussed, and recommendations for future work in these areas are presented.