Integrated Photonics for NewSpace

In the last years, an innovative approach in conceiving Space systems has been proposed, known as NewSpace, aiming at developing less expensive satellites in short periods of time, also saving costs, reducing time to access Space and enabling constellation flights. The miniaturization of on-board systems, even preserving reconfigurability and reliability, is required to fulfil the NewSpace goals. These features match with the photonics development trends, increasingly focusing on photonic integrated circuits that show EMI immunity, transparency, low propagation-induced loss, wide bandwidth, and radiation hardness. Here, the recent advances in the field of micro- and nano-photonic devices and systems, with potential applications mainly in the field of satellite technologies, are overviewed, with reference to materials, performance, reliability aspects, and technical bottlenecks, also reporting the development directions and perspectives.