Thirteen international academics and researchers contribute 12 chapters providing electrical engineering students, researchers, and professionals with an introduction to the basics of laser satellite communications, with an emphasis on device technology, implementation techniques, and system trades. Coverage includes an introduction to near-earth laser communications technology; systems engineering and design drivers; pointing acquisition and tracking; flight laser transmitters for coherent and direct detection; the flight optomechanical assembly; coding and modulation for free-space optical communications; photodetectors and receivers as applicable to both the flight and ground transceivers; implications of the atmospheric channel on laser beam propagation for downlinks and uplinks; the ground terminal, with examples from recent successful flight links; reliability and flight qualification; approaches and configurations for cross-links and optical networking; and ongoing activities and future directions. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)