How Next-Gen Spacecraft Are Overwhelming Our Communication Networks
Summary
The article analyzes how next-generation spacecraft are producing data at rates that outpace current downlink capabilities, highlighting factors such as sensor advances, regulatory needs, mission complexity, and commercial demand. It discusses bottlenecks in traditional space-ground links, surveys Ka-band and optical terminal solutions, and proposes immediate optimizations like on-orbit processing, data reduction, and smarter scheduling to improve data delivery today.