G&H Awarded Certificate of Appreciation by NEC Space Technologies for World-first Space Optical Fiber Amplifiers
February 2025 – Torquay, United Kingdom
G&H (LON:GHH), the leading OEM manufacturer for photonics and optics solutions, has received a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of NEC Space Technologies for the company’s high-power, low-noise space optical amplifiers used in the Laser Utilizing Communication System (LUCAS) launched in 2020. The fully space-qualified fiber-optic systems underpinned the world’s fastest inter-satellite links transmitted at a wavelength band of 1.55 μm with data rates of 1.8 Gbps between the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 "DAICHI-4" (ALOS-4) and the Optical Data Relay Satellite (ODRS), whilst being 40,000 km apart. A GEO-to-ground optical link was also demonstrated using the same structure, paving the way to future high-speed downlinks.
The LUCAS system, a hardware built under the auspices of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), includes two G&H optical amplifiers that are used to facilitate an all-optical bidirectional link between the geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Their role is to generate enough optical power to allow for high-speed data transfer between satellite terminals using laser signals. The space-grade fiber optic technology, system design and manufacturing expertise provided by the G&H team were key elements for achieving the long-distance, high-speed data link in the very harsh environment of Low Earth and Geostationary orbits.
During a special visit to our Fiber Optics Center of Excellence in Torquay, United Kingdom, G&H welcomed the NEC Space Technologies delegation formed of Mr. Hideki Katagiri (President, NEC Space Technologies), Mr. Hiroaki Miyoshi (Advisory Fellow, NEC), and Mr. Neo Fujiwara (Engineering Manager, NEC Europe). After a detailed facility tour, the Japanese delegation interacted with the G&H team that worked on the photonics project. The parties discussed the success of the LUCAS data transmission, especially focusing on how the hardware configuration is being used to transfer real information in space. The G&H research and development team that was present included Dr Peter Kean, R&D Director, Dr Matthew Welch, Chief Engineer for Fiber-Optic Systems, Marios Kehayas, Fiber Optics Product Engineer, and Paul Rogers, Fiber Optics Product Manager.
A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to G&H on behalf of NEC Space Technologies, for the “exceptional contribution of the groundbreaking achievement in inter-satellite optical communication technology.” The Certificate also recognized G&H’s contributing efforts throughout the different stages of manufacturing and testing of the space communication system.
Special acknowledgements were offered to Karen Hall, Fiber Optics Production Operator, and Roger Palfrey, Fiber Optics Sales and Operations Planning Manager, for their technical proficiency and overall exemplary leadership demonstrated throughout the collaboration.
“We are extremely grateful to NEC Space Technologies for the close collaboration in this challenging project that resulted in pushing the limits of photonics technology. At the same time, I am so proud of what the team has accomplished,” comments Dr Stratos Kehayas, President of the Photonics Division at G&H who was responsible for leading the project at the time.
G&H is honored to receive such prestigious appreciation from our partners in recognition of our close collaboration that fostered such important results. The team continues to innovate, with current efforts focused on miniaturized space photonics and space-to-ground links that require orders of magnitude higher powers.
As a world-leading photonics and optics company, we are proud of our continuous investment in engineering capabilities that help us stay at the forefront of the technology development curve and meet our customers’ needs and expectations.
Satellite Communications
Using our considerable experience in the design and manufacture of space-grade components, we develop application-specific sub-systems for laser satellite communications.
