TIDMGHH
Gooch & Housego PLC
23 December 2020
For immediate release 23 December 2020
RNS REACH
Gooch & Housego PLC
("G&H" or the "Group")
Successful Launch of Satellite Laser Communication System
Innovative G&H photonic systems and components launched in
space on board the Optical Data Relay Satellite as part of Japan's
new inter-satellite network
Gooch & Housego PLC (AIM:GHH), the specialist manufacturer
of optical components and systems, announces that G&H photonic
systems and components have been successfully launched in space and
are performing an important role in Japan's new inter-satellite
network.
G&H photonics technology is at the heart of a laser
communication system known as LUCAS (Laser Utilising Communication
System), which uses hardware developed by Japan's NEC Corporation
for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), a government
organisation.
JAXA and NEC recently announced the launch of LUCAS on board the
Optical Data Relay Satellite, which was launched from JAXA's
Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima, Japan, using an H-IIA
rocket.
The pioneering LUCAS system pushes the performance envelope in
terms of data rates and latency with the aim of offering near
real-time availability of satellite data. Use of the system will
show how laser communications can be a viable solution for future
high-speed and scalable space communications.
Using G&H's high-reliability undersea terrestrial
communications capabilities as the starting point, the LUCAS system
takes the Company's fibre optic systems and photonic technologies
into space. Two types of laser communication systems have been
developed: one for geostationary satellites and one for earth
observation satellites deployed on the low Earth orbit (LEO).
LUCAS relies on power-efficient fibre optic and semiconductor
laser technology at 1.55 <MU>m. The laser communication
equipment is designed to withstand the challenging phase of launch,
as well as long term radiation exposure whilst in orbit. LUCAS
photonics technology deployed on-board the Optical Data Relay
Satellite will be also used on JAXA's future advanced earth
observation satellites named DAICHI 3 (ALOS-3) and DAICHI 4
(ALOS-4).
The LUCAS system has two optical amplifier systems, designed and
manufactured by G&H, which are used to create an all-optical
bidirectional link between geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and LEO
satellites. A high-power amplifier system is responsible for
boosting the optical signal level before it goes out into space. A
low-noise amplifier is used at the receiver side to amplify the
very weak signals after having propagated in space for tens of
thousands of kilometres.
Both optical amplifier systems are manufactured in G&H
Torquay and include novel fiber-optics, space-grade laser
electronics in addition to NEC-manufactured digital electronic
boards for telemetry/tele-command. We are grateful to NEC for their
technical collaboration regarding robustness against the space
environment during the design and evaluation phases.
Fully-hermetic, space-grade semiconductor laser modules
manufactured in G&H Boston are also used in both the
transmitter and amplifier systems. The amplifier flight models
delivered passed system-level acceptance testing, including
mechanical shock, vibration and operation in vacuum.
To the best of our knowledge this is the first time 1.55
<MU>m optical fibre amplifiers have been deployed in the GEO
orbit.
Stratos Kehayas, Chief Technology Officer of Gooch &
Housego, commented:
"The amplifier system launched is packed with G&H
technology. A testament to the power of vertical integration, we
used our unique component base in Torquay, UK and Boston, USA to
develop novel and high-performing space photonic systems for
satellite laser communications. We also created the necessary
space-grade system manufacturing and assembly procedures and
applied these in world-leading, purpose-built cleanroom facilities
in Torquay, UK to manufacture these amplifiers.
"I am very proud and grateful to be part of this truly amazing
team. It has been a very challenging mission, but through
innovation, perseverance and, above all, teamwork, we delivered our
first system and made history, together. What started as a dream
and a system design scribbled in a lab book a few years ago, became
a state-of-the-art commercial system orbiting our planet. We are
grateful to NEC for selecting us to walk this path together and
innovate by merging the worlds of photonics and space
technologies."
For further information
contact: -
Gooch & Housego
Mark Webster/Chris Jewell PLC 01460 256440
Mark Court /Charlotte Slater Buchanan 020 7466 5000
Chris Baird/ Patrick Robb/
David Anderson Investec Bank plc 020 7597 5970
Notes to editors
1. Gooch & Housego is a photonics technology business
headquartered in Ilminster, Somerset, UK with operations in the USA
and Europe. A world leader in its field, the company researches,
designs, engineers and manufactures advanced photonic systems,
components and instrumentation for applications in the Aerospace
& Defence, Industrial, Life Sciences and Scientific Research
sectors. World leading design, development and manufacturing
expertise is offered across a broad range of complementary
technologies.
2. All financial information included in this announcement is
sourced from unaudited management accounts and excludes any
specific items. This announcement contains certain forward-looking
statements that are based on management's current expectations or
beliefs as well as assumptions about future events. These are
subject to risk factors associated with, amongst other things, the
economic and business circumstances occurring from time to time in
the countries and sectors in which G&H operates. It is believed
that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable
but they may be affected by a wide range of variables which could
cause actual results, and G&H's plans and objectives, to differ
materially from those currently anticipated or implied in the
forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue
reliance on any such statements. Nothing in this announcement
should be construed as a profit forecast.
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