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arXiv · 2406.09572

High Data Rate Laser Communications for the Black Hole Explorer

Jade Wang·Bryan Bilyeu·Don Boroson·Dave Caplan·Kat Riesing·Bryan Robinson·Curt Schieler·Michael D. Johnson·Lindy Blackburn·Kari Haworth·Janice Houston·Sara Issaoun·Daniel Palumbo·Elliot Richards·Ranjani Srinivasan·Jonathan Weintroub·Dan Marrone
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Abstract

The Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) is a mission concept that can dramatically improve state-of-the-art astronomical very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging resolution by extending baseline distances to space. To support these scientific goals, a high data rate downlink is required from space to ground. Laser communications is a promising option for realizing these high data rate, long-distance space-to-ground downlinks with smaller space/ground apertures. Here, we present a scalable laser communications downlink design and current lasercom mission results.

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Jade Wang, Bryan Bilyeu, Don Boroson, Dave Caplan, Kat Riesing, Bryan Robinson, Curt Schieler, Michael D. Johnson, Lindy Blackburn, Kari Haworth, Janice Houston, Sara Issaoun, Daniel Palumbo, Elliot Richards, Ranjani Srinivasan, Jonathan Weintroub, Dan Marrone. 2024-06-13. High Data Rate Laser Communications for the Black Hole Explorer. https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.09572

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