Research on Optical Site Diversity for Space Communications over Asia-Pacific Region

Abstract

Our research on optical site diversity for space optical direct communications over the Asia-Pacific region based on satellite imageries is described. The objective of this research is to find groups of geographically separate locations with high fine-weather rates to place optical ground stations and form an optical site diversity network based on data analysis of geostationary meteorological satellite (GMS) imageries for 10 years, covering the Asia-Pacific region. Our other objective is to propose optical ground stations network over Japan and between Japan and Australia. In this analysis, target areas are focused on Japan and Australia because of the long operation backgrounds of radio communication ground station networks in these areas. We first talk about our analysis system for optical site diversity based on registered locations over Japan and Australia. Next, we study groups of geographically separate locations corresponding to sites for optical ground stations to form an optical site diversity network over Japan and between Japan and Australia with their operation availabilities. Our discussions on the network topologies formed by these optical ground stations are also given: not only over Japan but also between Japan and Australia in the Asia-Pacific region to connect them with NASA’s and the ESA’s optical ground stations for international optical ground station networks.