It is pretty simple, you can't see through a cloud because the visible light gets scattered. This system works with 1550 nm light, which behaves pretty much the

It is pretty simple, you can't see through a cloud because the visible light gets scattered. This system works with 1550 nm light, which behaves pretty much the same in the context. Normal ground to satellite communication use wavelengths of 7 mm and up, as those have reasonable cloud penetration.