ABSTRACT
Governments are increasingly reliant on space-based sensors to generate intelligence products and provide situational awareness in support of operational activities. A key challenge with current sensor systems in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is the difficulty to maintain continuous, secure, high bandwidth connectivity.
Today satellites in LEO typically communicate with the ground via a series of intermittent downlink windows when the spacecraft passes over a ground station. These downlink windows typically occur for 10 minutes every 90 minutes, meaning that the sensor data is often up to 90 minutes old. Additionally the ground stations are often bandwidth-limited which limits the volume of sensor data which can be downlinked in a single pass. And finally, the ground stations are often located outside sovereign territory and represent a potential security risk.
This update describes a space-based data relay architecture which can provide continuous, secure, high bandwidth connectivity for space based sensors. The update also details how recent advancement in optical communications technology is being harnessed to provide enhanced security and significantly higher bandwidths than previously available.
BIOGRAPHY
Prior to joining EOS he spent 17 years with SES, the world’s largest commercial satellite operator, delivering satellite communications solutions to business and government customers throughout the Indo-Pacific region. He holds an Honours degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tasmania, an MBA from the Deakin Business School, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.