Challenges of direct-to-Earth (DTE) laser communications (lasercom) between spacecraft in
low-Earth orbit (LEO) or medium-Earth orbit (MEO) and ground terminals can include short
duration transmission windows, long time gaps between the transmission windows,
deleterious effects of atmospheric turbulence, and the inability to operate in cloudy weather.
Direct-link optical communications systems described herein can have data rates that are
high enough to empty high-capacity on-board buffer (s)(eg, having a capacity of at least …