Laser communication is one of the important means to realize the interaction of large data and information in the future.

Respondent company: Shenzhen Hangxing Optical Network Space Technology Co., Ltd.

Respondent: Project Director Zuo Wei

Q1, What progress has the company made in technology, products, marketing, commercialization, financing, and team?

Laser communication has the advantages of wide bandwidth, high data rate, low power consumption, and no need for spectrum application. It is one of the important means to realize the information exchange between large and large data sources in the future. The company’s technology source is also one of the shareholders.Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences< /a>(Shanghai Optics Institute). Sangguang is the longest-established research institute in China with the longest established laser communication technology and application.

The company currently has nearly 40 members, and the core team has nearly 20 years of experience in aerospace system development and management. Founder Pan Yunbin and CTO Wang Yiqun have been working in aerospace systems for many years, and have experience and resources in the company’s commercial operations and technology development.

The company’s products are divided into three categories: star-to-ground laser communication terminal, inter-satellite laser communication terminal and optical ground station according to the application scenario. In October 2018, the first verification star successfully launched and verified the satellite laser communication link. In the third quarter of 2019, the company will deliver two inter-satellite communication terminals for the inter-satellite link of the Internet of Things constellation, 2019 The company is about to deliver 1 star in the fourth quarter.The ground terminal and an optical ground station are used for downlink data transmission of remote sensing satellites.

In terms of financing, Hangxing Optical Network completed the angel round financing of tens of millions of yuan in 2017, which was led by Guoke Jiahe and led the capital and Tongdu Capital.

Q2, 2019, the next time, the company may have new progress in technology, products, market, commercialization, financing, team, etc.

Based on the two inter-satellite laser communication terminal products to be delivered in the third quarter, the company is developing the next generation of lighter, low-power, high-speed inter-satellite communication terminals based on customer demand, while improving the group. The self-research rate of components is selected from industrial grade products to optimize the manufacturing process.

In terms of commercialization, the company is actively promoting cooperation with the production and research institutes of Shanghai Guangji Institute, using the existing technical resources, conducting mass production technology research, expanding the team, improving technology research and development capabilities and manufacturing capabilities.

In terms of financing, the company is actively seeking primary market financing and related industry company holdings.

Q3, 2019, the three things that have the greatest impact on the industry in the industry?

On May 24, 1.2019, SpaceX successfully launched a set of 60 practical Starlink satellite programs. SpaceX has greatly accelerated the production speed of satellites through the integration of the industry chain, and produced 60 satellite satellites in six months. At the same time, combined with its own advantages as a launcher, the star and arrow are optimized, and the shape of the satellite and the fairing of the rocket are comprehensively analyzed, and finally a solution that can maximize the utilization of the carrier rocket and the envelope of the fairing is formed.

On February 28, 2002, OneWeb launched the first batch of six Internet satellites. This launch marks the transition of OneWeb from concept verification to commercialization. On July 22nd, OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus, completed a satellite manufacturing facility near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The plant is equipped with two production lines and has a capacity of two satellites per day. The first 34 satellites produced by the device are scheduled to be launched in December this year to deploy satellite constellations.

On May 9, 3.2019, OneWeb announced that the next generation of satellites will use inter-satellite links. The current development of low-orbit constellation projects is flourishing. Among these constellations, the US Starlink constellation, the US LeoSat constellation, and the Canadian Telesat Constellation, China Aerospace Science and TechnologyThe group’s “Hongyan Satellite Constellation Communication System” and China Aerospace Science and Industry Group’s “Cloud Project” have all decided to use the laser inter-satellite link to achieve spatial networking, achieving the goal of network optimization management and service continuity. The “Star-to-Surface Microwave Communication + Inter-satellite Laser Communication” technical solution has become the mainstream of the constellation networking.

Q4, the next big time in 2019, what are the major events in the industry that will be concerned?

1. NASA plans to implement the LCRD (Laser Communications Relay Demonstration) laser communication relay verification project in 2019, which will use adaptive optics to improve laser link reliability and achieve GEO-to-ground laser communication. The LCRD system consists of two GEO (Geo-synchronous orbit) spaceborne laser communication terminals and two terrestrial laser communication terminals. NASA plans to validate key technologies for next-generation TDRSS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Systems) through LCRD projects, including coded modulation techniques, tracking and capture technologies, links and network protocols, to design, build and operate highly efficient light for the future. Experience in communication systems and relay networks; verify deep-space optical communication technologies, advanced networking technologies and operational concepts. The laser communication terminal was developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The laser data relay satellite uses a laser as a communication method to form a laser communication link between satellites or between a satellite and a ground station. A relay satellite that performs laser communication between satellites or between a satellite and an earth station can not only greatly increase the relay communication capacity, but also speed up communication, and can further reduce the size, weight, and power consumption of communication instruments, and improve reception. Sensitivity.

2. The Japan Space Development Agency (JAXA) and the Sony Computer Science Laboratory issued a joint announcement that the joint implementation of the International Space Station Small Laser Link (SOLISS) device is expected to arrive at the International Space Station on September 11, 2019. It will then be installed on the Japanese “Hope” outboard test platform, and the long-range satellite laser communication test will be completed in 2019. The miniaturization of laser communication devices is a trend, and small communication terminals are expected to greatly increase the performance of small remote sensing satellites, especially cubic stars. Germany is also actively engaged in related research and development and testing.

Q5, 2019, what are the things and trends that will occur in the industry and the direction of the subdivision?

At present, the ground network construction has entered the 5G stage, and the construction cost of the ground 5G and 6G networks is still high. The addition of Skynet as the ground network is the general trend. Provide Internet connectivity to the world, GoogleAnd Facebook has also taken action. In June 2013, Google launched a project called “Internet with Balloons”, Project Loon, which plans to build a wireless network with hot air balloons to provide Internet connectivity around the world. Facebook also launched the Aquila program in 2015 to provide network coverage using drones. It is worth mentioning that Facebook has made faster progress. The April FCC document disclosed the satellite constellation program that Facebook’s subsidiary PointView Tech LLC will launch. In 2019, large Internet companies have been involved in the boom of broadband Internet constellation construction. Amazon submitted an application for spectrum use rights to the ITU ITU in April, and intends to build the Kuiper constellation with 3,236 satellite networks. On March 24, Huawei announced at the first 6G wireless summit in Finland that it will launch more than 10,000 low-orbit satellites to achieve global coverage of 6G communications at a cost of $9.9 billion. Huawei believes that the 6G era will surpass the “Internet of Things” in the 5G era and realize the “Internet of Everything” (IoE). In terms of communication dimension, in addition to higher speed and wider spectrum, 6G should be extended to sea, land and even underwater space. Therefore, a possible trend in the later period is that more Internet companies, communication companies and equipment manufacturers enter the satellite constellation networking field to promote market demand and industrial chain upgrades.

In the field of laser communication, the experimental verification phase of the technology has been completed, and the academy and research institutions have completed the exploration from 0 to 1, including demonstration and verification of on-board terminal technology, satellite-to-ground docking technology, and subsequent technical standardization exploration. It has also been completed and will be developed into the engineering application phase of technology, namely the commercial operation from 1 to N. This phase includes the development of optical terminals and optical terminal flight verification. The business operation concept of miniaturization, light weight and low cost has become the mainstream development direction of the laser communication industry. It is expected that in 2019, NASA will verify the laser communication link of the GEO geosynchronous orbit satellite to the ground in the LDRD project, using the adaptive optical system of DPSK coherent modulation. In addition, JAXA Japan will also verify the feasibility of laser communication satellites as data relay, including GEO’s geosynchronous orbit satellites for LEO low-orbit satellites and GEO geosynchronous orbit satellites directly to the ground laser communication link, also using DPSK coherent modulation.

Q6, 2019, what kind of competition pattern will the industry in which the company is located present?

From the perspective of the global market, satellites are the core of commercial aerospace. In 2018, the total number of satellites launched exceeded 300, and the number of satellites operating in the orbital service reached 2,100, an increase of 20% or more. Among them, remote sensing satellites accounted for 39% of the total, and commercial communication satellites accounted for 22%. In 2018, the global satellite industry’s total revenue increased by 3% compared with the previous year, and satellite manufacturing revenue increased by 26% compared with 2017.

The speed of constellation deployment has become the most important competitiveness of satellite constellation networking. Each player has already launched a constellation deployment to start the competition. SpaceX established a self-developed satellite plant covering the entire process of design, production, integration, and testing in Redmond, Washington in mid-2018, taking into account the update of SpaceX’s two-phase constellation approaching 12,000 satellites and 5-year design life. The replacement of demand will inevitably pose unprecedented challenges to the construction of satellite production lines and the capabilities of the supplier system. SpaceX is now combined with the experience of mass production in the automotive industry, and the use of intelligent tools to carry out automated production line construction is an important means to reduce the cost of satellite development. Coincidentally, OneWeb also pays great attention to the production capacity and deployment speed of satellites. On July 22nd, OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus, completed a satellite manufacturing plant near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The production line has the capacity of two satellites per day. The first 34 satellites produced by the device are scheduled to be launched in December this year to deploy satellite constellations.

The development of existing products of Hangxing Optical Network adheres to the business operation concept of miniaturization, light weight and low cost, and utilizes the advantages of the industrial chain to expand cross-field cooperation. For example, it cooperates with a famous German research institute to study the next generation of higher sensitivity detectors, and cooperates with leading manufacturers in the domestic microwave communication field to discuss the application of mature industrial grade products in aerospace products. From the perspective of traditional satellite manufacturing, on-orbit aerospace products require a series of rigorous and complex processes such as testing, prototype, sample, and joint adjustment. After several rounds of iterative optimization, to ensure stability. At the same time, in the selection of parts and components, it tends to adopt strict screening of aerospace-grade products, the process is complex, and the cost is high. In contrast, the commercial company operates in a way that simplifies the development process and testing while ensuring core functions, and uses a large number of industrial-grade components to achieve high integration and rapid iteration. At the heart of the competition is a shift in thinking patterns that strikes a balance between efficiency and reliability.

Q7, 2019, will the company have some milestone nodes?

The company has two important nodes in the second half of the year. In the third quarter of 2019, the company will deliver two inter-satellite communication terminals for the inter-satellite link of the Internet of Things constellation. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the company will deliver one satellite terminal. And an optical ground station for remote sensing satellite data downlink. The Internet of Things constellation is currently 2 verification stars, and it will start to launch business later.Stars are networked. After the successful verification of the inter-satellite laser communication link, the laser communication terminal becomes the standard of the Internet of Things networking. As the networking plan progresses, the order increases year by year in combination with the demand for the update iteration after the expiration of the satellite life. stable. Another important node of the company is the transmission of remote sensing satellite data downlink laser terminal. This product will become one of the data transmission options of remote sensing satellite platform, and laser communication has the advantages of wide bandwidth, high data rate, low power consumption and no need for spectrum application. It has strong market competitiveness from both cost and function perspectives. Such projects are mainly carried out in the form of resource replacement and upstream and downstream cooperation in the industrial chain. Therefore, the company mainly undertakes the research and development costs of the terminal.

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