With an emphasis on near-earth links including air, LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits rather than on terrestrial links, Near-Earth Laser Communications presents a summary of important free-space laser communication subsystem challenges and discusses potential ways to overcome such challenges. This comprehensive reference provides up-to-date information on component and subsystem technologies, fundamental limitations, and approaches to reach those limits. Highlighting key design variations and critical differences between them, this book is vital to those working with optical communications technology and also highlights optical communications work performed in the US, Europe, and Japan.