The NIMPH Project

The next generation of telecommunication satellites operating in the Ku and Ka bands consider radio over optical fibre (RoF) technologies as a good candidate for the future flexible payloads. During the last 10 years CNES has supported the evaluation of optical components for spatial requirements. At present, experimental feedback in real environment would accelerate the introduction of RoF technologies for spatial needs. It is in this context that Thales Alenia Space and CNES offered the opportunity to the students of Toulouse University to realize a nanosatellite dedicated to the orbital test of a RoF transmission. This 2 years old ongoing project is entitled: Nanosatellite to Investigate Microwave Photonics (NIMPH).