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www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/3/2035/2010/
doi:10.5194/amtd-3-2035-2010
© Author(s) 2010. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Atmospheric influence on a laser beam observed on the OICETS – ARTEMIS communication demonstration link
ESA/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Abstract. In 2006 bi-directional optical inter-satellite communication experiments have been conducted between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (OICETS) and the European Space Agency (ESA) multi purpose telecommunications and technology demonstration satellite (Advanced Relay and Technology MISsion) ARTEMIS. On 5 April 2006 an experiment was successfully carried out maintaining the inter-satellite link during OICETS's setting behind the Earth limb until the signal was lost. This setup resembles an occultation observation where the influence of Earth's atmosphere is evident in the power fluctuations recorded at ARTEMIS's (and OICETS's) receiver. These fluctuations are not existing or at a low level at a link path above the atmosphere and steadily increase as OICETS sets behind the horizon until the tracking of the signal is lost. This specific experiment was performed only once since atmospheric science was not the goal of this demonstration. Nevertheless this kind of data, if available more frequently in future, can help to study atmospheric turbulence and validate respective models. The data presented here had been recorded at ARTEMIS.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 2717 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 3 Comments) Final Revised Paper (AMT)
Notice on Discussion StatusCitation: Löscher, A.: Atmospheric influence on a laser beam observed on the OICETS – ARTEMIS communication demonstration link, Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., 3, 2035-2054, doi:10.5194/amtd-3-2035-2010, 2010. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
