Intersatellite Laser Time Synchronization and Laser Link Performance Analysis of 3-Layer Satellite Networks

A variety aerospace applications require high-precision time frequency reference and the corresponding time synchronization method. The laser time synchronization is one of the developing field of future intersatellite time synchronization. This paper studied the intersatellite laser time synchronization method of 3-layer satellite networks including GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit) satellites, IGSO (Inclined GeoSynchronous Orbit) satellites and MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) satellites and gave two modes of intersatellite laser time synchronization. According to the given 3-layer satellite networks, which simulates the intersatellite distance between layer in the satellite networks, and analyzes laser time synchronization link performance of GEO-IGSO, GEO-MEO and IGSO-MEO with setting intersatellite transmission system, link parameters and transmission loss and other conditions. The results show that when the intersatellite distance is the maximum, under the condition that the transmitting power of GEO, IGSO and MEO satellite is about 1 W and the antenna diameter is only 0.2 m, the transmission rate shall reach 2 Gb/s or more. The results provided a reference for 3-layer satellite networks intersatellite laser time synchronization.