LASER COMPONENTS’ partner Photline are providing modulators for two space missions. Photline 1064 nm phase modulators are being integrated in the rangefinders of the two satellites of the GRACE2 NASA mission. The GRACE2 mission will be launched in 2017 and will measure variations in gravity over Earth’s surface, producing regularly updated maps of the gravity field with a 20 times improved accuracy compared with the current measurement system.
Photline are also providing the space equipment manufacturer TESAT-SPACECOM with customised phase and intensity modulators for its new generation of Laser Communication Terminal (LCT) used for inter-satellite optical communication. The use of external modulation will allow the implementation of a new modulation format (BPSK) and lead to improved data-rates and bit error rate.
