Next-Generation Space Laser Communication: Challenges and Opportunities

Dear Colleagues,

Space laser communication has emerged as a key enabling technology for future high-capacity space information networks, offering significant advantages in terms of high data rates, large bandwidth, low power consumption, compact terminals, and enhanced security. With the rapid development of satellite constellations, space-based broadband networks, lunar and deep-space exploration, and integrated space–air–ground communication systems, the demand for high-speed, long-distance, reliable, and flexible optical wireless links is continuously increasing.

Despite remarkable progress in recent years, next-generation space laser communication still faces a number of fundamental and technological challenges. These include ultra-high-speed optical transmission over extremely long distances, high-sensitivity reception under low-photon conditions, atmospheric turbulence and weather effects on satellite-to-ground links, rapid acquisition and high-precision pointing and tracking, advanced modulation and coding, flexible multi-user access, and networking and routing, as well as the miniaturization, integration, and intelligent operation of laser communication terminals. Meanwhile, emerging technologies such as photonic integration, optical phased arrays, adaptive optics, artificial intelligence, and multi-band heterogeneous networking are creating new opportunities for future space optical communication systems.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate recent advances in the theories, technologies, devices, systems, experiments, and applications of next-generation space laser communication. We welcome original research articles, review papers, and perspective articles addressing both fundamental research and practical engineering developments.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Satellite-to-satellite, satellite-to-ground, and deep-space laser communication;
• High-speed and ultra-high-capacity optical transmission technologies;
• Coherent optical communication, advanced modulation, coding, and signal processing;
• Photon-efficient and high-sensitivity optical communication;
• Acquisition, pointing, and tracking technologies;
• Atmospheric optical channel modeling, turbulence mitigation, and adaptive optics;
• Optical phased arrays and non-mechanical beam steering;
• Photonic integration and miniaturized laser communication terminals;
• Multi-user, multi-beam, and reconfigurable optical communication systems;
• Space optical networking, routing, switching, and resource management;
• Hybrid RF/optical and multi-band space communication systems;
• Artificial intelligence and intelligent control for space laser communication;
• Experimental demonstrations, in-orbit verification, and emerging applications.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and to promoting further advances in next-generation space laser communication.

Dr. Duorui Gao
Dr. Haifeng Yao
Dr. Shuaiwei Jia
Guest Editors

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