Recent results in optical satellite link research at DLR

Free-space optical communication systems are becoming more and more prominently used in a number of application scenarios, such as satellite communications, Quantum Key Distribution, as well as optical time- and frequency transfer. The Optical Satellite Links department at German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Communications and Navigation has been performing research in free-space optical communications for more than two decades. The department runs research and development programs in order to advance optical communication technology and to perform system demonstrations with end-to-end character. In this paper, recent results in the fields of atmospheric turbulence characterization and mitigation, optical communication terminals, Optical Ground Stations, Quantum Communication Systems and of more fundamental developments will be presented. This includes an overview about the department’s Optical Ground Stations including its adaptive system, results for satellite-to-ground measurement campaigns and flight campaigns.