ESA-supported advanced photonics manufacturing project for next-generation satellite communications celebrates success
The European Space Agency (ESA) continues to drive forward-looking satellite technologies through its Advanced Manufacturing Processes for High Reliability Photonics Transceivers (AutoMAIT) project. The successful activity has demonstrated an improvement on the critical alignment of optical fibres that communicate data at high speed with semiconductor photonic integrated circuit devices, converting the data into electronic signals.
This marks a significant advancement for European capabilities in next generation very high-throughput satellite communications. Helping drive the level of integration through photonic integrated circuit terminations on the same printed circuit boards as the network processing devices. The technology addresses critical challenges in satellite communications: more channels and each with additional data throughput, reliability, and advanced connectivity between space assets.
The project was developed by Ireland's MBRYONICS with support from Enterprise Ireland; the government agency responsible for the ESA Member States' investment in space. Driven by ESA's Connectivity and Secure Communications through the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Competitiveness and Growth programme, the initiative focused on enhancing manufacturing processes for crucial optical communication components that will power tomorrow's satellite constellations. Supporting the project’s technological development phase since July 2022, ESA provided the necessary framework to transform promising photonics concepts into space-qualified hardware, able to reliably withstand and operate in the harsh space environments.
Traditional satellite communication systems have faced limitations in bandwidth and high-volume manufacturing consistency, particularly in the non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) market. The new automated packaging processes for photonics transceivers, developed through this activity, allows for the precise alignment of an optical fibre with a photonic integrated circuit – a delicate and sensitive process that, until now, posed a challenge for large-scale automated manufacturing. This represents a significant step forward in precision engineering. These technologies enable applications that benefit from reliable high-performance optical communication devices.
The project offers numerous benefits for satellite communications: it improves manufacturing consistency with improved assembly reliability and repeatability, increases data transmission capacity, enhances system reliability, as well as a reduction in the size and weight of complex network systems. These benefits can be applied across various space communication networks, delivering further investment resilience in the price-sensitive NGSO market. By building on MBRYONICS’ significant prior investment in photonics transceiver development and packaging for satellite applications, the project has accelerated European capabilities in this critical technology area.
"This project exemplifies how ESA's support of innovative companies drives technological evolution," said Harald Hauschildt, Head of the Optical & Quantum Programme Office within ESA's Connectivity and Secure Communications. "By helping transform promising concepts into mature technologies, we're aiming for future-facing capabilities within satellite communications systems to provide secure and seamless connectivity for everyone, everywhere, at all times."
"As we push the boundaries of innovation in photonics and satellite communications, this collaboration with ESA not only enhances our capabilities but also sets a new standard for reliability and efficiency in space technology. The advanced packaging processes we are industrialising for volume manufacturing enable new levels of Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C) performance for key emerging applications such as direct-to-device, optical intersatellite links, and intra-satellite communications for the proliferated low Earth orbit market. Together, we are paving the way for a future where seamless connectivity is a reality for all," said John Mackey, CEO of MBRYONICS.