High throughput satellite system with rf service uplink beams and optical feeder downlink beams

A method for enabling a space based subsystem of a satellite to produce and transmit an optical feeder downlink beam in dependence on RF service uplink beams received from service terminals within a specified RF frequency range, the method comprising:

• emitting a plurality of optical signals each having a different peak wavelength that is within a specified optical wavelength range;
• electro-optically modulating each of the optical signals with one of a plurality of different data modulated RF carrier signals, each of which has been modulated to carry return link data for at least one of a plurality of RF service uplink beams, to thereby produce a plurality of optical data signals, each of which carries return link data for at least one of the plurality of RF service uplink beams and has an RF frequency within the same specified RF frequency range within which the satellite is configured to receive RF service uplink beams from service terminals;
• multiplexing the plurality of optical data signals to thereby produce a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal that includes return link data corresponding to the RF service uplink beams;
• producing an optical feeder downlink beam, in dependence on the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal;
• and
• transmitting the optical feeder downlink beam through free-space from the satellite to a ground based gateway;
• wherein because RF frequencies of the optical data signals produced during the electro-optically modulating are within the same specified RF frequency range within which the satellite is configured to receive RF service uplink beams from service terminals, there is an elimination of any need for the satellite to perform any frequency conversions when producing the optical feeder downlink beam in dependence on the RF service uplink beams.

A method for enabling a space based subsystem of a satellite to produce and transmit an optical feeder downlink beam in dependence on RF service uplink beams received from service terminals within a specified RF frequency range, the method comprising:

• modulating each of a plurality of optical signals with one of a plurality of different data modulated RF carrier signals to thereby produce a plurality of optical data signals, wherein each of the optical signals has a different peak wavelength, and wherein each of the data modulated RF carrier signals has an RF frequency within the same specified RF frequency range within which the satellite is configured to receive RF service uplink beams from service terminals;
• multiplexing the plurality of optical data signals to thereby produce a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal;
• producing an optical feeder downlink beam, in dependence on the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal;
• and
• transmitting the optical feeder downlink beam through free-space from the satellite to a ground based gateway;
• wherein because RF frequencies of the optical data signals produced during the modulating are within a same specified RF frequency range within which the satellite is configured to receive RF service uplink beams from service terminals, there is an elimination of any need for the satellite to perform any frequency conversions when producing the optical feeder downlink beam in dependence on the RF service uplink beams.