Rakon launches ground-breaking semiconductor chip for space

1 August 2024
Rakon launches ground-breaking semiconductor chip for space
Rakon Limited (NZX:RAK), a world leading manufacturer of frequency control and timing solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of MercuryR™, a ground-breaking, radiation-hardened semiconductor chip designed for Rakon’s space oscillator products.
The chip’s innovative design produces industry-leading performance and reliability in the harsh radiation environment of space, and is the foundation for Rakon’s latest range of specialised, miniature crystal oscillator products aimed at the high-growth global space industry.
These products provide highly accurate and stable frequency references, and precision timing, that are crucial for communication and synchronisation in satellites, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, as well as ground stations and other space infrastructure.
Rakon CEO Sinan Altug says the new chip is a great example of the company’s ability to innovate and deliver on its strategy to diversify and grow its product offering in the space sector.
“MercuryR is a game-changer for a range of space applications including LEO and geostationary orbit satellites, which currently rely on more complex and costly oscillators,” says Altug.
“At our FY24 results we reported that Rakon is seeing the highest ever order book for our space business, and in May we announced our largest space contract win, worth up to $17 million, to supply subsystems for a new LEO satellite constellation.
“This was followed by a second subsystems contract win in June to supply another new LEO satellite constellation. We expect this growth to continue as we deliver on our strategy to diversify our space product offering, target strategic high level contracts, and increase our market share.”
With the launch of MercuryR, Rakon has further leveraged its high-performing Mercury chip, to innovate a new line of space oscillators that deliver the best performance and reliability at the smallest possible scale – including better frequency stability, lower power consumption, and higher shock and vibration resistance.
Rakon already delivers high volumes of its Mercury chip based oscillator products for telecommunications applications, including 5G infrastructure and data centres. These products also include the recently launched MercuryX range for the AI computing hardware market – an emerging core market for Rakon.
Rakon is a leading supplier of frequency control and timing equipment for the global space industry, and a top-3 supplier for its space subsystems. The company also has a 40-year legacy of working with leading agencies such as NASA, ISRO and ESA.
ENDS
Contact
Investor and media relations
Nick Laurent
[email protected]
+64 21 240 7541
www.rakon.com
About Rakon
Rakon is a world leader in advanced frequency control and timing solutions for communications where speed and reliability are paramount. A leading supplier of subsystems and oscillators for the fast growing global space market, Rakon also has a 40+ year legacy of working with agencies such as NASA, ISRO and ESA to develop groundbreaking products for space exploration programmes – including ISRO’s Chandrayaan missions to explore the Moon’s South Pole and ESA’s Juice mission to study the icy moons of Jupiter. For more information, visit www.rakon.com/space.
In May 2024, Rakon announced a space subsystems contract win, worth up to $17 million over 3 years, to supply its Master Reference Oscillator (MRO) subsystems for a new Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation: https://www.nzx.com/announcements/431144.
In June 2024, Rakon announced a second space subsystems contract win to supply another new LEO satellite constellation: https://www.nzx.com/announcements/433551

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Announcement PDF