Terahertz Wireless Communications in Space

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of Terahertz band wireless communications for space missions, addressing challenges, proposing solutions, and simulating Mars-space links under various atmospheric conditions to meet increasing data demands.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of using Terahertz band for space links, discusses key challenges, and provides simulations demonstrating bandwidth availability in different Mars atmospheric scenarios.

Findings

Terahertz links can provide large bandwidth even during dust storms.

Challenges include atmospheric absorption and hardware development.

Simulations show feasibility of high-data-rate Mars communication.

Abstract

The New Space Era has increased communication traffic in space by new space missions led by public space agencies and private companies. Mars colonization is also targeted by crewed missions in the near future. Due to increasing space traffic near Earth and Mars, the bandwidth is getting congested. Moreover, the downlink performance of the current missions is not satisfactory in terms of delay and data rate. Therefore, to meet the increasing demand in space links, Terahertz band (0.1-10 THz) wireless communications are proposed in this study. In line with this, we discuss the major challenges that the realization of THz band space links pose and possible solutions. Moreover, we simulate Mars-space THz links for the case of a clear Mars atmosphere, and a heavy dust storm to show that even in the worst conditions, a large bandwidth is available for Mars communication traffic.