Technology development for a low-mass solar system and interstellar communications system

Philip Mauskopf; Roger Angel; Harry Atwater; Elisa Bazzanid; Karl Berggren; Paul Blase; Roberto Corvaja; Artur Davoyan; T. Marshall Eubanks; Anna Valeria Guglielmi; Robert H. Hadfield; Michael Hart; Andreas M. Hein; Adam Hibbard; Michael Hippke; Tracee Jamison-Hooks; Boubacar Kante; Michael D. Kelzenberg; Robert G. Kennedy III; Peter Klupar; Jeff Kuhn; Nicola Laurenti; Martin P. J. Lavery; Mansavi Lingam; Philip Lubin; Zac Manchester; Owen Medeiros; David Messerschmitt; Ian Morrison; Hossein Mosallaei; Thomas J. Mozdzen; Ricardo R. Rodriguez; Filippo Romanato; Gianluca Ruffato; James Schalkwyk; Richard M. Scott; Ruzan Sokhoyan; Slava G. Turyshev; Giuseppe Vallone; Lorenzo Vangelista; Jose Velazco; Paolo Villoresi; Andrea Vogliardi; S. Pete Worden; Saeed Zeinolabedinzadeh

doi:10.1117/12.3023043

12 March 2024 Technology development for a low-mass solar system and interstellar communications system

Philip Mauskopf, Roger Angel, Harry Atwater, Elisa Bazzanid, Karl Berggren, Paul Blase, Roberto Corvaja, Artur Davoyan, T. Marshall Eubanks, Anna Valeria Guglielmi, Robert H. Hadfield, Michael Hart, Andreas M. Hein, Adam Hibbard, Michael Hippke, Tracee Jamison-Hooks, Boubacar Kante, Michael D. Kelzenberg, Robert G. Kennedy III, Peter Klupar, Jeff Kuhn, Nicola Laurenti, Martin P. J. Lavery, Mansavi Lingam, Philip Lubin, Zac Manchester, Owen Medeiros, David Messerschmitt, Ian Morrison, Hossein Mosallaei, Thomas J. Mozdzen, Ricardo R. Rodriguez, Filippo Romanato, Gianluca Ruffato, James Schalkwyk, Richard M. Scott, Ruzan Sokhoyan, Slava G. Turyshev, Giuseppe Vallone, Lorenzo Vangelista, Jose Velazco, Paolo Villoresi, Andrea Vogliardi, S. Pete Worden, Saeed Zeinolabedinzadeh

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12877, Free-Space Laser Communications XXXVI; 1287722 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3023043
Event: SPIE LASE, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Conference Poster

Abstract

We describe the requirements and associated technology development plan for the communications data link from low mass interstellar probes. This work is motivated by several proposed deep space and interstellar missions with an emphasis on the Breakthrough Starshot project. The Starshot project is an effort to send the first low mass interstellar probes to nearby star systems and transmit back scientific data acquired during system transit within the time scale of a human lifetime. The about 104-fold increase in distance to nearby stars compared to the outer planets of our solar system requires a new form of propulsion to reach speeds of approximately 20% of the speed of light. The proposed use of a low mass sailcraft places strong constraints on the mass and power for the Starshot communications system. We compare the communications systems in current and upcoming solar system probes, New Horizons and Psyche, against the requirements for Starshot and define Figures of Merit for the communications capability in terms of data downlink rate multiplied by distance squared per unit mass. We describe current and future technology developments required for the on-board transmitter (signal generation, signal distribution, and beamforming) and for the near-Earth communications receiver (low-cost large aperture telescopes, high resolution spectrometers, and single photon counting detectors). We also describe a roadmap for technology development to meet the goals for future interstellar communications.

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

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Philip Mauskopf, Roger Angel, Harry Atwater, Elisa Bazzanid, Karl Berggren, Paul Blase, Roberto Corvaja, Artur Davoyan, T. Marshall Eubanks, Anna Valeria Guglielmi, Robert H. Hadfield, Michael Hart, Andreas M. Hein, Adam Hibbard, Michael Hippke, Tracee Jamison-Hooks, Boubacar Kante, Michael D. Kelzenberg, Robert G. Kennedy III, Peter Klupar, Jeff Kuhn, Nicola Laurenti, Martin P. J. Lavery, Mansavi Lingam, Philip Lubin, Zac Manchester, Owen Medeiros, David Messerschmitt, Ian Morrison, Hossein Mosallaei, Thomas J. Mozdzen, Ricardo R. Rodriguez, Filippo Romanato, Gianluca Ruffato, James Schalkwyk, Richard M. Scott, Ruzan Sokhoyan, Slava G. Turyshev, Giuseppe Vallone, Lorenzo Vangelista, Jose Velazco, Paolo Villoresi, Andrea Vogliardi, S. Pete Worden, and Saeed Zeinolabedinzadeh "Technology development for a low-mass solar system and interstellar communications system", Proc. SPIE 12877, Free-Space Laser Communications XXXVI, 1287722 (12 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3023043

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