SuperHero League brings four photonics companies together for webinar on space communications
OPTOMAN, Zygo, G&H and Acktar will explore the engineering challenges behind reliable optical links for space on 8 September 2026.
8 September 2026, 16:00 CEST — The SuperHero League will bring together four photonics companies for a technical webinar examining how optical systems can maintain performance under the demanding conditions of space communications.
The SuperHero League Webinar: Photonics for Space Communications will focus on the practical engineering challenges involved in building robust optical links, from optical loss and coating degradation to noise, thermal effects and alignment.
In a space-based optical link, performance depends on maintaining the quality of the beam throughout the system. By the time the beam reaches the receiver, it must retain a sufficiently clean wavefront to couple into a single-mode fibre only a few microns wide. At the same time, the optical system must operate across vacuum, withstand thermal gradients that can distort optical surfaces, maintain alignment to microradian precision, and survive years of radiation exposure without the possibility of maintenance or component replacement.
“In space, there is very little room to compensate for optical losses or degradation once a system is deployed,” said Martynas Adomaitis, Market Development Manager at OPTOMAN. “The performance of individual optical components has to be considered as part of the complete link, because small losses or changes in optical performance can have a significant impact on the system-level budget.”
The webinar brings together four companies working across different parts of the optical chain. Rather than presenting a single technology or solution, the speakers will examine the challenges from their respective areas of expertise and discuss how they affect the performance and reliability of the complete system.
The programme will feature four short technical presentations followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A moderated by Dr Markus Kogel-Hollacher, Executive Director of AKL e.V.
Speakers
- Richard Pultar — Optical Systems Engineer, Zygo
- Martynas Adomaitis — Market Development Manager, OPTOMAN
- Dr Peter Kean — R&D Director, G&H
- Alexander Telle — CEO, ACM Coatings GmbH (Acktar Ltd)
Host and moderator
Dr Markus Kogel-Hollacher — Executive Director, AKL e.V.
The webinar is intended for engineers, researchers and technical decision-makers working with space communications, optical systems, laser technology and related photonics applications.
SuperHero League Webinar: Photonics for Space Communications
8 September 2026 | 16:00 CEST
About the SuperHero League
The SuperHero League is a collaboration between companies in the photonics industry, bringing together complementary expertise to address complex optical engineering challenges and promote networking in a fun way. Through joint technical content and events, the initiative aims to share practical knowledge across the photonics community.
