InterSatellite Communications

1
Inter-Satellite Communications Applications and
Challenges for Constellations 7th Annual AIAA
SOSTC Workshop April 26-27 2001 Dave Welch -
Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc/U of C-LASP
2
Motivation Challenging Future Missions

• Fleet Operations
• Multiple S/C with same / different goals
• Formation / constellation flying and navigation
• Autonomous and commanded operation
• Sensor Web
• Around Earth
• At Mars other planetary bodies
• Cooperative observation of unique events
• Robotic Exploration
• Collaborative exploration
• Self organizing communications
• Robust communications with little infrastructure
• Interdependent Mission Scenarios
• Multi-national development approaches
• Resource constrained scenarios

3
Future Mission Scenario
3 April 2001
4
Background Presentations (Session 1)

• Formation Flying
• Jesse Leitner NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
• APL Crosslink Technology Development
• Patrick Stadter Johns Hopkins Applied Physics
  Laboratory
• Inter-Satellite Communications
• Steve Talabac Commerce One

5
Working Group Discussions (Sessions 2 3)

• Session 2 (Thursday Afternoon)
• Anticipated Spacecraft Capabilities to use this
  Technology
• Operational Pros and Cons of Utilizing
  Inter-Satellite Communications
• Collaboration with the Laser Communications Track
  (depending on available time and group interest)
• Session 3 (Friday Morning)
• Recommendations for Use of Inter-Satellite
  Communications to Reduce Operational Costs
• Develop Track Summary

6
Goals Inter-Satellite Communications Track

• List of Expected Inter-Satellite Communications
  Capabilities
• List of Operational Benefits Potentially Derived
  from these Capabilities
• List of Obstacles to Overcome to Implement these
  Capabilities
• List of Recommendations for Reducing Ops Costs