DGAP-News: Mynaric

Mynaric reports on successful development progress of smallsat laser communication product 

• Mynaric inducted into Space Technology Hall of Fame for adapting laser communication originally developed as a space technology to commercial applications
• Laser communication enables Internet provision for those without connectivity via aerospace communication networks
• Award to be bestowed on laser communications specialist at ceremony at the 34^th Space Symposium, Colorado Springs (USA), in April

Munich, Colorado Springs, 16 February 2018 - Mynaric has today announced that it has been inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame for its work on transferring laser communication developed for research purposes to commercial applications. Its miniaturized laser terminals are being utilized to establish high-speed laser connectivity between aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites which are intended to build the data highways of an Internet above the clouds to connect the estimated 3 billion people still without connectivity.

The prestigious award, which has been awarded in tandem with the German Aerospace Center's (DLR) Institute of Communications and Navigation division, was given in recognition of the company's successful commercialization of laser communication. The technology was originally developed at DLR to transmit large amounts of data from research satellites and was transferred to Mynaric via a license agreement.

Dr Markus Knapek, founder and member of the Management Board of Mynaric as well as a former researcher at DLR, stated: "We are both honored and delighted to be inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame and are extremely grateful to the judges for this highly-respected accolade. It is acknowledgment not just of the effort of the highly-skilled team at Mynaric who design and produce our laser terminals but also recognition of the technology underpinning the products and the years of planning and hard work that went in to making it a reality."

Companies making use of Mynaric's laser terminals include American aerospace customers who are in the process of deploying large networks of aircraft, all connected by laser, which can provide connectivity where conventional radio communication systems cannot. Mynaric's laser communication products are a key technology in providing the backbone connectivity for these constellations and it is for this development that Mynaric's work has been recognized by the Space Foundation.

"DLR and Mynaric together have delivered a superb example of the amazing and often unexpected benefits of space exploration," said Space Foundation Vice-President of Marketing & Communications Kevin C. Cook. "The laser communication as commercialized by DLR and Mynaric represents the latest in a growing number of non-U.S. technologies to be honored with Space Technology Hall of Fame induction."

Dr Wolfram Peschko, CEO of Mynaric, also thanked the judges for the award and commented: "To be able to take our place next to organizations such as NASA, and companies such as Boeing and Airbus, as winners of this award shows how far we have come in a relatively short space of time. And even more encouraging, is to see our technological developments sitting alongside previous winning technologies that have proved their worth - as the award criteria states - in improving the quality of life for all humanity; technologies which have led to the worldwide-adoption of firefighter breathing systems, precision GPS software improving the safety of millions of air passengers and imaging software allowing for early detection of heart disease and stroke."

Mynaric's induction will take place at the 34^th Space Symposium award dinner in Colorado Springs (USA) in April.

About Mynaric
Mynaric is a manufacturer of laser communication technologies used to establish dynamic communication networks in air and space. Its wireless laser data transmission products include ground stations and flight terminals, which allow very large quantities of data to be sent wirelessly over long distances between aircrafts, autonomous drones, high altitude platforms, satellites and the ground at high data rates.
Globally, the need for fast and ubiquitous network connectivity is advancing inexorably. Data networks are today largely based on infrastructure on the ground, which cannot be expanded arbitrarily for legal, economic or logistical reasons. The future therefore calls for an expansion of the existing network infrastructure into air and space. With its wireless laser communication products Mynaric is positioned as a pioneer in this growth market.
For more information see: www.mynaric.com
 

About DLR
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is the national aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport, digitalisation and security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. In addition to its own research, as Germany's space agency, DLR has been given responsibility by the federal government for the planning and implementation of the German space programme. DLR is also the umbrella organisation for the nation's largest project management agency.
For additional information see: www.dlr.de

About the Space Technology Hall of Fame^(R)
The Space Foundation's Space Technology Hall of Fame was established to increase public awareness of the benefits that result from space exploration programs and to encourage further innovation. To date, the Space Technology Hall of Fame has inducted dozens of technologies and honored hundreds of organizations and individuals who transformed space technology into commercial products that improve the quality of life for all humanity. Additional information about the Space Technology Hall of Fame, including a complete list of inducted technologies, is available by visiting www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org.

Important information
Some of the information in this announcement may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the Company. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," or, in each case, the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, general economic conditions, our competitive environment, risks associated with our industry, as well as many other risks specifically related to the Company and its operations.

Contact
Jan Hutterer
Kirchhoff Consult AG
mynaric@kirchhoff.de
+49 40 609 186 65
www.kirchhoff.de

Paul Conwell
Mynaric AG

paul.cornwell@mynaric.com
+49 8105 7999 - 117
www.mynaric.com