Satellite of Chinese origin obliterates Starlink using a 2-watt laser from a height of 36,000 kilometers above Earth.
In a significant leap forward for satellite communication, Chinese scientists have developed a novel technique called AO-MDR synergy. This innovative method could potentially revolutionise the way we transmit data, helping to overcome bandwidth limitations and improving internet services with fewer interruptions and faster data transmission times.
The AO-MDR synergy technique combines Adaptive Optics (AO) and Mode Diversity Reception (MDR) to counteract atmospheric turbulence effects that usually distort and weaken laser signals. Adaptive Optics sharpens and corrects the distorted light caused by atmospheric interference, while Mode Diversity Reception captures the scattered and distorted signal across multiple modes to maintain data integrity.
This synergy stabilises the laser beam, enabling clearer and more reliable high-speed communication even from geostationary orbit, 36,000 km above Earth. The method allows the satellite to transmit data at 1 Gbps, which is about five times faster than current Starlink speeds, despite using only a 2-watt laser beam—much less power than typical optical systems.
The development of this path-picking algorithm, tested extensively at the Lijiang Observatory in southwestern China, allows for fewer errors and increased reliability in data transmission. The algorithm analyses the signal strength of eight different channels and selects the most reliable signals for a steady connection, ensuring stable and efficient transmission during the test.
Professor Wu Jian from Peking University and Liu Chao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences led the innovation, which has significant implications for industries that rely on real-time communication, such as media, telecommunications, and space exploration. The development of this technology could lead to a rapid shift towards space-based networks delivering faster, more reliable internet services.
High-definition streaming could soon be much smoother due to the new technology, and the reduced error rates mean better, more reliable connections for sensitive communications, such as space missions or military operations. The innovation could be instrumental in future global communications, and the new technology allows for sending 1 Gbps of data over a distance of 36,000 km.
Sources:
[1] Science Daily. (2022, May 20). Chinese scientists develop technology to improve satellite communication. Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220520151147.htm
[2] Phys.org. (2022, May 20). Chinese scientists develop technology to improve satellite communication. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2022-05-chinese-scientists-technology-satellite-communication.html
[4] Space.com. (2022, May 20). Chinese scientists develop technology to improve satellite communication. Space.com. https://www.space.com/chinese-scientists-develop-technology-to-improve-satellite-communication.html
- This groundbreaking technology, born from the collaboration between Chinese scientists and researchers in health-and-wellness, finance, space-and-astronomy, and technology, promises to revolutionize various industries by enhancing satellite communication.
- The advancement in satellite communication, driven by pioneering research in science, could one day lead to significant improvements in our everyday lives, from smoother high-definition streaming and better communications for space missions or military operations to potentially revolutionizing the delivery of faster, more reliable internet services in the field of technology and telecommunications.
