A Review of Observations of Solar Winds and Solar Impact on Deep-Space Telecommunications Using Downlink Signals From Space Probes

Deep-space telecommunications will be severely affected by solar winds and the solar corona during a Superior Solar Conjunction. In this paper we discuss effects of inhomogeneous solar winds on signals in deep-space telecommunications. The effects include intensity scintillations, phase scintillations, and spectral-broadening phenomena. We then give a comprehensive review of observations of signal scintillations induced by solar winds and solar coronal events using downlink signals from deep-space probes. Our review is based on our investigation of dozens of papers related to the subject. We propose a scheme to observe signal scintillations using communication signals of existing space probes. The scheme aims to advance the Chinese deep-space exploration plan. The scheme can be applied in conjunction with data communications and orbital measurements of deep-space probes once the Chinese deep-space exploration starts.