Ruisheng Clyde Aerospace Company Commercializes TNO's Satellite Communication Laser Terminal

AAC Clyde Space, a small satellite technology multinational company headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, has obtained the right to manufacture and distribute laser satellite communication terminals using the optical technology of the Dutch research institution TNO.

TNO's technology helps to transmit satellite generated data to Earth through lasers, with the potential to achieve high speed and security in broadband connections, surpassing traditional radio frequency communication methods.

In addition, the Dutch company FSO Instruments is a supplier of terminal core optical components, which also originate from TNO's research. This arrangement may help establish an international supply chain for laser satellite communication terminals.

TNO Space Director Kees Buyjsrogge commented, "This new collaboration highlights our commitment to accelerating technology transfer, promoting the growth of Dutch optical satellite communication capabilities, and strengthening strong networks within Europe and NATO.".

The new agreement grants Raytheon Clyde Aerospace the right to use TNO laser communication terminal technology for 20 years. These terminal sizes are 10 x 10 x 10 centimeters, suitable for small satellites that AAC Clyde Space excels at. Their goal is to manufacture a commercially viable laser communication terminal for small satellites that can be mass-produced.

In order to fully develop AAC terminals, Clyde Space requires additional optical technology, FSO instruments will provide these technologies. FSO Instruments has recently signed a similar licensing agreement to leverage TNO's technology and expertise in optical heads, optical workbenches, and coarse pointing alignment systems.

By cross licensing TNO's optical technology, it has established a supply chain for producing small satellite communication terminals, which is pioneering in the Netherlands.

Operation mode
Laser satellite communication provides links between ground stations, satellites, aircraft, and drones. Using the infrared band, laser communication can achieve data transmission speeds that are 100 to 1000 times faster than radio frequencies currently used for communication. In addition, laser communication links are considered safer because they use very narrow optical laser beams instead of wide radio signals.

Luis Gomes, CEO of Raytheon Clyde Aerospace, said, "The advancement of high data volume payloads (such as Earth observation payloads for cube satellites and small satellites) highlights the necessity of improving downlink capabilities in small sizes. The global demand for laser satellite communication applications is on the rise. Through this collaboration, we can not only leverage this demand but also strengthen the international reputation of the Netherlands in innovative new space solutions.".

Source: Laser Net