The Australian Centre for Space Photonics

Raison d'etre

To expand unique Australian capabilities and experience to progress research into key technologies for an interplanetary high-data rate optical communications link that are synergistic with near term space communication needs.

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System Concept - a telescope with laser transmitter in Mars orbit, comparable in size to the Hubble Space Telescope, acts as a communications relay for Mars probes to send their data back to earth at high data rates in a beam of light. A receiving station might be on the Earth's surface as shown here, or in Earth orbit. Image assembled using photos of planets from NASA's photojournal. (higher resolution version here, and of a space-based receiver concept here)

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Investigate it yourself - javascript system model

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Read the story Exploration of Mars Interplanetary communication problem A solution to the problem Tools for the solution Providing the tools Collaboration of world leading organisations Australia in space Some specific research projects Direct benefits of involvement Other Australian science benefits

Why lasers? - an explanation for non-scientists Why lasers? - an explanation for scientists

Related Publications Powerpoint presentation for the National Space Society of Australia, Powerhouse Museum, 14 October 2003. (3.5MB) 26 July '02 paper in 'Science' about the need for optical communications in space (Available online) Paper in 'Astrophysical Journal' about the need for optical communications in space (Available online) Powerpoint presentation for the 2nd Australian Space Science Workshop, July 2002. (850KB) Presentation 1 (Andrew McGrath) and Presentation 2 (Jeremy Bailey) for the ATNF engineering seminar, December 2002. (1MB and 83kB Powerpoint files respectively)

Recent media reports AAO press release Nature New Scientist Physics Web Space Daily Optics.org Space.com Australian Broadcasting Corporation Space Flight Now Space Ref Nando Times Wired.com Sydney Morning Herald Manila Times

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Originally created by Andrew McGrath on July 10, 2002