Colloquium: Sander Orbons (Space Exploration)

Future Very High-Throughput Satellites (VHTS) are foreseen to implement optical ground-to-satellite feeder links (OFL) to achieve multi-terabit-per-second data rates. Optical links however, are highly susceptible to atmospheric losses caused by turbulence, absorption, and scattering, especially at low elevation angles. Despite prior confirmation of the feasibility of cloud-free network availability, high-latitude stations have been notably absent from OFL studies due to the limitation of Geostationary orbits (GEO) in providing sufficiently high link elevation angles. Tundra orbits present a promising alternative to GEO, requiring two satellites to ensure uninterrupted coverage of high-latitude regions like Europe and Canada, with a link geometry highly suitable for OFL. The analysis conducted in this thesis underscores the promising potential for OFL to Tundra orbits for high-latitude regions and addresses implementation aspects related to this non-traditional orbit.

Supervisor: Rudolf Saathof