Atmosphere Impact and Ground Station Selection for Satellite-to-Ground Laser Communication

Abstract

A multiple ground stations scheme satellite-to-ground laser communication is proposed with the geographical distribution of cloud cover and climatic features considered. The effect of attenuation caused by atmospheric scattering and atmospheric turbulence is analyzed for different paths from geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellites to five ground stations. Link characteristics between the GEO satellite and the five ground stations are simulated using the satellite tool kit (STK) software. The results show that Ali region in Tibet has the best longitude and latitude conditions with a horizontal angle of 52°, which is most beneficial to laser satelliteto-ground communications. The power attenuation shows a decreasing trend as the wavelength increases due to scattering under the same weather conditions. The optical power attenuation is intensified as visibility falls. The average power attenuation caused by atmosphere decreases along with the rise of horizontal angle. The longer the wavelength λ , the smaller the scintillation index; the scintillation index decreases rapidly when the diameter of receiving aperture increases; the scintillation variance is improved as altitude increases. The analysis is helpful with field experiments of satellite-to-ground laser communication.

Study on Satellite-to-ground Laser Communications with Existence of Atmosphere<sup>*</sup>

“…The simulation results provided some suggestions for the ATP design. Lou et al [2] simulated Link characteristics between the GEO satellite and the five ground stations, using the Satellite Tool Kit (STK) software. The power attenuation showed a decreasing trend as the wavelength increases due to scattering under the same weather conditions.…”