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7 books on Space Communications [PDF]
March 09, 2025 | 21 |
These books are covering satellite communication networks, signal transmission in space, deep space communication, ground station technology, data relay systems, interplanetary internet concepts and advancements in secure space communication protocols.
1. Information, Communication, and Space Technology
2017 by Mohammad Razani
"Information, Communication and Space Technology" is a book that boldly tackles a question very few people have asked but probably should: What happens when we mash together information technology, communication systems and space technology into one glorious, high-tech mess? The answer, as it turns out, involves everything from hyper-advanced robotics and satellite-powered agriculture to "rocket-less" spacecraft launches (which sound both thrilling and slightly concerning). This book explores how these interconnected fields are quietly reshaping the world—and occasionally the cosmos—through innovations like space-based solar energy distribution (finally, a way to keep your Wi-Fi running even when your power company lets you down). Written by an expert with more than three decades of experience untangling these complex systems, it breaks down the intricate web of ICT, satellites and space advancements with a logical yet surprisingly engaging approach. Whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone who likes the idea of satellites beaming down life-altering technology while also taking suspiciously detailed pictures of your backyard, this book is your ultimate guide to the dazzling future of interconnected space-age wizardry.
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2. Deep Space Communications
2016 by Jim Taylor
In Deep Space Communications, Jim Taylor takes on one of the great unsung challenges of space exploration: trying to hold a conversation across billions of miles without the signal getting lost, garbled, or mistaken for a distress call by an overly enthusiastic alien civilization. This book dives into the extraordinary work done by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which has spent decades ensuring that when we send a spacecraft hurtling into the void, it can still phone home—even if "home" is a tiny blue dot on the other side of the solar system. Using a case study approach, it explores how deep-space communication has evolved from the 1970s Voyager missions (which are still out there, whispering messages into the cosmic abyss) to the Mars Science Laboratory rover, which routinely sends back selfies from another planet. Along the way, the book highlights the heroic efforts of the Deep Space Network, a system of giant radio antennas that spend their days listening for faint signals from distant probes, hopefully distinguishing them from random cosmic noise, interstellar interference, or someone’s microwave. If you’ve ever wondered how we manage to chat with robots parked millions of miles away, or how NASA engineers avoid screaming into the void when a signal mysteriously disappears for a few hours, this book is your guide to the most impressive long-distance calling plan in history.
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3. Deep Space Telecommunications Systems Engineering
2013 by Joseph H. Yuen
In Deep Space Telecommunications Systems Engineering, Joseph H. Yuen and his team of very clever engineers tackle one of the great challenges of space exploration: how to have a clear, uninterrupted conversation with a spacecraft that is billions of miles away and moving at frankly unreasonable speeds. Since shouting really, really loudly isn’t a viable option, this book explores the mind-bending complexities of deep-space communications, where even the slightest interference—from Earth’s atmosphere, interplanetary plasma, or a particularly grumpy solar storm—can mean the difference between receiving groundbreaking scientific data and getting nothing but static. Despite these challenges, deep-space telecom engineers have managed to squeeze every last bit of efficiency out of microwave signals, inching ever closer to the theoretical limits of communication technology (without, one assumes, violating any major laws of physics). Packed with brilliant insights, ingenious solutions and a few cautionary tales about what happens when things don’t quite go to plan, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the fine art of keeping in touch with our robotic ambassadors to the cosmos—without having to wait 40 minutes for a reply that just says, "Oops, signal lost."
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4. Satellite Communications
2011 by Joseph N. Pelton
In Satellite Communications, Joseph N. Pelton takes on the mind-bogglingly vast and often bafflingly complex world of beaming information across the planet using large, expensive objects hurtling through space at thousands of miles per hour. As the largest space industry on Earth (because, let’s face it, launching things into orbit just so we can binge-watch TV is a very human priority), satellite communications involve an intricate dance of technology, economics and enough regulatory red tape to make even the most patient bureaucrat weep. Pelton, a former Dean of the International Space University (yes, that’s a real thing) and Director of Strategic Policy at Intelstat, breaks down everything from how these orbital relay stations actually work to the future challenges of keeping them functional without turning low Earth orbit into an overcrowded mess of defunct satellites and misplaced wrenches. Whether you're deeply invested in the industry or just mildly concerned about what happens if all the satellites suddenly decide to stop working (spoiler: chaos), this book is your go-to guide for understanding the invisible infrastructure that keeps modern civilization running—and occasionally reminds us that space, despite all our best efforts, is still an alarmingly unforgiving place to do business.
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5. Free-Space Laser Communications: Principles and Advances
2010 by Arun K. Majumdar, Jennifer C Ricklin
In Free-Space Laser Communications: Principles and Advances, Arun K. Majumdar and Jennifer C. Ricklin explore humanity’s ongoing quest to communicate faster, better and with fewer awkward signal dropouts—this time using lasers. Yes, lasers. Because apparently, radio waves just weren’t sci-fi enough. Free-space laser communications (which is exactly what it sounds like: beaming high-speed data through thin air with concentrated light) is quickly becoming the cool, futuristic cousin of traditional RF communications, promising faster speeds, higher bandwidth and a significantly reduced risk of running into the same old frequency interference issues. Of course, it does come with its own delightful set of challenges—such as the fact that Earth’s atmosphere tends to be annoyingly unpredictable, occasionally turning even the best laser link into a shimmering, unreliable mess. This book serves as a deep dive into the science, technology and potential chaos of shooting data-packed lasers across anything from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers. If you’ve ever wished your WiFi was powered by something out of a space opera—or you just want to understand how we might soon be beaming internet from orbit with gloriously futuristic light beams—this book has you covered. Just try not to get distracted by how cool it all sounds.
Download PDF
6. Review of the Space Communications Program of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate
2007 by National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, Committee to Review NASA's Space Communications Program
In Review of the Space Communications Program of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate (a title that, much like space itself, seems to go on forever), a team of very serious and highly intelligent people examine whether NASA’s Space Communications Office (SCO) is actually managing to keep the interstellar phone lines open—or if things are just held together by hope, duct tape and the occasional panicked reboot. Commissioned in 2005, this report meticulously dissects every aspect of NASA’s communication infrastructure, from the space network and integrated space network (which sound suspiciously like the same thing but aren’t) to spectrum management, search and rescue and technology integration—because, as it turns out, losing a spacecraft due to bad reception is generally frowned upon. With recommendations for improving SCO operations, enhancing network capabilities and possibly making sure no critical signals get lost because someone sneezed near a control panel, this book is essential reading for anyone fascinated by the complex, often absurdly difficult task of making sure messages sent across millions of miles don’t just vanish into the cosmic void.
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7. Antenna Arraying Techniques in the Deep Space Network
2005 by David H. Rogstad, Alexander Mileant, Timothy T. Pham
In Antenna Arraying Techniques in the Deep Space Network, David H. Rogstad, Alexander Mileant and Timothy T. Pham tackle one of the lesser-known but absolutely crucial aspects of deep space exploration: how to hear a whisper from the other side of the solar system when the universe insists on being very, very noisy. The solution? Use multiple giant antennas in clever, science-fiction-sounding ways to boost weak signals and extend the lifetimes of spacecraft that were supposed to retire decades ago but are still stubbornly transmitting postcards from the void. Currently used at places like the Goldstone Complex, antenna arraying is a bit like cupping multiple hands around your ear in a very expensive and highly technical game of cosmic eavesdropping. This book, written by the brainy folks at JPL, dives into the history, theory and practical applications of this wizardry, detailing how we’ve managed to keep talking to distant probes without resorting to increasingly desperate yelling. Part of the prestigious JPL Deep Space Communications and Navigation Series, this volume is essential for anyone who wants to understand the cutting-edge science of listening very, very carefully to spacecraft that are, quite frankly, far too far away for comfort.
Download PDF
How to download PDF:
1. Install Google Books Downloader
2. Enter Book ID to the search box and press Enter
3. Click "Download Book" icon and select PDF*
* - note that for yellow books only preview pages are downloaded
1. Information, Communication, and Space Technology
2017 by Mohammad Razani
"Information, Communication and Space Technology" is a book that boldly tackles a question very few people have asked but probably should: What happens when we mash together information technology, communication systems and space technology into one glorious, high-tech mess? The answer, as it turns out, involves everything from hyper-advanced robotics and satellite-powered agriculture to "rocket-less" spacecraft launches (which sound both thrilling and slightly concerning). This book explores how these interconnected fields are quietly reshaping the world—and occasionally the cosmos—through innovations like space-based solar energy distribution (finally, a way to keep your Wi-Fi running even when your power company lets you down). Written by an expert with more than three decades of experience untangling these complex systems, it breaks down the intricate web of ICT, satellites and space advancements with a logical yet surprisingly engaging approach. Whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone who likes the idea of satellites beaming down life-altering technology while also taking suspiciously detailed pictures of your backyard, this book is your ultimate guide to the dazzling future of interconnected space-age wizardry.
Download PDF
2. Deep Space Communications
2016 by Jim Taylor
In Deep Space Communications, Jim Taylor takes on one of the great unsung challenges of space exploration: trying to hold a conversation across billions of miles without the signal getting lost, garbled, or mistaken for a distress call by an overly enthusiastic alien civilization. This book dives into the extraordinary work done by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which has spent decades ensuring that when we send a spacecraft hurtling into the void, it can still phone home—even if "home" is a tiny blue dot on the other side of the solar system. Using a case study approach, it explores how deep-space communication has evolved from the 1970s Voyager missions (which are still out there, whispering messages into the cosmic abyss) to the Mars Science Laboratory rover, which routinely sends back selfies from another planet. Along the way, the book highlights the heroic efforts of the Deep Space Network, a system of giant radio antennas that spend their days listening for faint signals from distant probes, hopefully distinguishing them from random cosmic noise, interstellar interference, or someone’s microwave. If you’ve ever wondered how we manage to chat with robots parked millions of miles away, or how NASA engineers avoid screaming into the void when a signal mysteriously disappears for a few hours, this book is your guide to the most impressive long-distance calling plan in history.
Download PDF
3. Deep Space Telecommunications Systems Engineering
2013 by Joseph H. Yuen
In Deep Space Telecommunications Systems Engineering, Joseph H. Yuen and his team of very clever engineers tackle one of the great challenges of space exploration: how to have a clear, uninterrupted conversation with a spacecraft that is billions of miles away and moving at frankly unreasonable speeds. Since shouting really, really loudly isn’t a viable option, this book explores the mind-bending complexities of deep-space communications, where even the slightest interference—from Earth’s atmosphere, interplanetary plasma, or a particularly grumpy solar storm—can mean the difference between receiving groundbreaking scientific data and getting nothing but static. Despite these challenges, deep-space telecom engineers have managed to squeeze every last bit of efficiency out of microwave signals, inching ever closer to the theoretical limits of communication technology (without, one assumes, violating any major laws of physics). Packed with brilliant insights, ingenious solutions and a few cautionary tales about what happens when things don’t quite go to plan, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the fine art of keeping in touch with our robotic ambassadors to the cosmos—without having to wait 40 minutes for a reply that just says, "Oops, signal lost."
Download PDF
4. Satellite Communications
2011 by Joseph N. Pelton
In Satellite Communications, Joseph N. Pelton takes on the mind-bogglingly vast and often bafflingly complex world of beaming information across the planet using large, expensive objects hurtling through space at thousands of miles per hour. As the largest space industry on Earth (because, let’s face it, launching things into orbit just so we can binge-watch TV is a very human priority), satellite communications involve an intricate dance of technology, economics and enough regulatory red tape to make even the most patient bureaucrat weep. Pelton, a former Dean of the International Space University (yes, that’s a real thing) and Director of Strategic Policy at Intelstat, breaks down everything from how these orbital relay stations actually work to the future challenges of keeping them functional without turning low Earth orbit into an overcrowded mess of defunct satellites and misplaced wrenches. Whether you're deeply invested in the industry or just mildly concerned about what happens if all the satellites suddenly decide to stop working (spoiler: chaos), this book is your go-to guide for understanding the invisible infrastructure that keeps modern civilization running—and occasionally reminds us that space, despite all our best efforts, is still an alarmingly unforgiving place to do business.
Download PDF
5. Free-Space Laser Communications: Principles and Advances
2010 by Arun K. Majumdar, Jennifer C Ricklin
In Free-Space Laser Communications: Principles and Advances, Arun K. Majumdar and Jennifer C. Ricklin explore humanity’s ongoing quest to communicate faster, better and with fewer awkward signal dropouts—this time using lasers. Yes, lasers. Because apparently, radio waves just weren’t sci-fi enough. Free-space laser communications (which is exactly what it sounds like: beaming high-speed data through thin air with concentrated light) is quickly becoming the cool, futuristic cousin of traditional RF communications, promising faster speeds, higher bandwidth and a significantly reduced risk of running into the same old frequency interference issues. Of course, it does come with its own delightful set of challenges—such as the fact that Earth’s atmosphere tends to be annoyingly unpredictable, occasionally turning even the best laser link into a shimmering, unreliable mess. This book serves as a deep dive into the science, technology and potential chaos of shooting data-packed lasers across anything from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers. If you’ve ever wished your WiFi was powered by something out of a space opera—or you just want to understand how we might soon be beaming internet from orbit with gloriously futuristic light beams—this book has you covered. Just try not to get distracted by how cool it all sounds.
Download PDF
6. Review of the Space Communications Program of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate
2007 by National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, Committee to Review NASA's Space Communications Program
In Review of the Space Communications Program of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate (a title that, much like space itself, seems to go on forever), a team of very serious and highly intelligent people examine whether NASA’s Space Communications Office (SCO) is actually managing to keep the interstellar phone lines open—or if things are just held together by hope, duct tape and the occasional panicked reboot. Commissioned in 2005, this report meticulously dissects every aspect of NASA’s communication infrastructure, from the space network and integrated space network (which sound suspiciously like the same thing but aren’t) to spectrum management, search and rescue and technology integration—because, as it turns out, losing a spacecraft due to bad reception is generally frowned upon. With recommendations for improving SCO operations, enhancing network capabilities and possibly making sure no critical signals get lost because someone sneezed near a control panel, this book is essential reading for anyone fascinated by the complex, often absurdly difficult task of making sure messages sent across millions of miles don’t just vanish into the cosmic void.
Download PDF
7. Antenna Arraying Techniques in the Deep Space Network
2005 by David H. Rogstad, Alexander Mileant, Timothy T. Pham
In Antenna Arraying Techniques in the Deep Space Network, David H. Rogstad, Alexander Mileant and Timothy T. Pham tackle one of the lesser-known but absolutely crucial aspects of deep space exploration: how to hear a whisper from the other side of the solar system when the universe insists on being very, very noisy. The solution? Use multiple giant antennas in clever, science-fiction-sounding ways to boost weak signals and extend the lifetimes of spacecraft that were supposed to retire decades ago but are still stubbornly transmitting postcards from the void. Currently used at places like the Goldstone Complex, antenna arraying is a bit like cupping multiple hands around your ear in a very expensive and highly technical game of cosmic eavesdropping. This book, written by the brainy folks at JPL, dives into the history, theory and practical applications of this wizardry, detailing how we’ve managed to keep talking to distant probes without resorting to increasingly desperate yelling. Part of the prestigious JPL Deep Space Communications and Navigation Series, this volume is essential for anyone who wants to understand the cutting-edge science of listening very, very carefully to spacecraft that are, quite frankly, far too far away for comfort.
Download PDF
How to download PDF:
1. Install Google Books Downloader
2. Enter Book ID to the search box and press Enter
3. Click "Download Book" icon and select PDF*
* - note that for yellow books only preview pages are downloaded
