High-Speed Data Transmission in LEO Satellite Networks with Free Space Optics-Based Transponder and 3D Switch Model

To meet the increasing demand for data transmission in future spacecraft, a structural revision is necessary. The current limitations of radio frequency communication systems, both technologically and regulatory, have created a bottleneck in data transmission to the ground segment. To address these challenges, the integration of free space optics communication within terrestrial space networks proves crucial. This approach offers several advantages, including significantly enhanced data rates compared to traditional RF technology, cost-effectiveness, improved security, inter-satellite free space communication, and the utilization of laser beams as optical signal carriers for establishing satellite-ground and ground-to-satellite links. Consequently, there is a requirement for high-speed and energy-efficient systems to serve as a foundation for transmitting large volumes of video and audio data. Nano Satellites, including the CubeSat platform, possess advanced technical capabilities that make them essential components in the space sector. They operate in Low-Earth-Orbit and are designed with cost-effectiveness and diverse communication topologies in mind. This research focuses on developing the output parameter indicators for the existing CubeSat platform’s optical communication transceiver subsystem. The objective is to enhance the performance of this communication methodology by introducing a 3D optical switch and a laser beam-controlled optical transponder as structural subsystems within a 2U CubeSat. The study encompasses their functional performance, structural parameters, and their application within the Low Earth Orbit satellite network topology.