Space odyssey started with the foresight of Arthur C. Clarke and the global coverage credited to him following his idea of three geosynchronous satellites covering the globe with 120 degrees separated from each other. Until now, there have been many ways exploited to reach a larger audience through global mobile communications to broadcast satellite systems for Direct-to-Home users by means of different orbit satellites with varying sizes, from 1 kg, up to 5-6 tons. GPS is now embedded in our pocket machines by means of Medium Orbit Satellites. Scientific mission efforts reached to a new higher limit by exploring the farthest planet in our solar system and communication through 4.5 billion kilometers after a 9.5 years journey. All these enhancements are the results of the communication techniques developed for smaller, cost-effective and reliable systems. In this special issue, all new ideas and novel design techniques for next generation communication subsystems of the satellites and ground stations for satellite communications are seeked.

Example subject areas to be covered but not limited to:

1. Inter-satellite communications, cooperative communication schemes with less power consumption;
2. Inter-orbit communications, i.e., LEO to the ground station through GEO;
3. Scientific mission concepts;
4. Cost-effective and reliable communication systems;
5. Transponders getting smaller in size and weight;
6. Data handling while gathering vast amount of data by listening to outer space;
7. Evolution of ground stations for FSS and BSS systems for satellite operators;
8. Reconfigurable communication systems, SDR, cognitive transponders;
9. Wireless power transfer;
10. Energy Harvesting.