Fiber optics are increasingly utilized in embedded systems, offering advantages in terms of mass, volume, and bandwidth. Moreover, various functions previously managed solely by electronics can now be achieved in the optical domain, such as filtering, delay, channel switching, frequency conversion, and frequency generation (please refer to the dedicated paragraph). We have been actively engaged in this field for numerous years, particularly in the realm of space applications. The nanosatellite NIMPH (Nanosatellite to Investigate on Microwave Photonics Hardware) is an example of a system designed to assess the reliability of optical and optoelectronic devices in space. The satellite's main payload will test the radiation-induced degradation of different erbium-doped optical fibers and verify the proper functioning of optical and optoelectronic system components, including lasers, photodiodes and MOEMS switches.