|
|
Telecommunications  Any space mission would turn out totally useless if a telecommunication system failure happens to occur. However, telecommunication systems have proved to be highly reliable in past interplanetary or Earth orbit missions. Rarely a mission failure was due to communication systems. Nevertheless, the need for high bandwidths was revealed in studies on future Mars missions such as Mars Sample Return. Regular RF bandwidth will not allow for the high data transfer needed. At this stage, it is not known whether higher RF frequencies (X/Ka) will cover the needs or if optical communications are mandatory.
Click on an activity below to read a summary of the purpose and scope of this activity. Where possible, the final summary report of any completed activities can be obtained here.
ExoMars Specific Mars Sample Return Specific
• RF/Optical link systems trade-off study for interplanetary telecommunications
Generic Exploration Technologies Last update: 19 September 2005
|