A study of free space laser communication experiment on the ISS Japanese experiment module for space explorations

In future, there will be spacecrafts traveling toward celestial bodies such as the Moon and Mars, as shown in GER (Global Exploration Roadmap) of ISECG (International Space Exploration Coordination Group). Further development of communication technology for high speed data links is required. For this purpose, a study of the laser direct communication experiment from the International Space Station to optical ground stations in Japan has been conducted and is described in this paper.