Connectivity through satellite communication is an important technology to complement wired solutions through copper cable or optical fiber. Just as in terrestrial communication, there is a continuing increase in the demand for more bandwidth. The challenges that come with upgrading satellite capabilities are quite specific for the environment. Linearly expanding the payload of a satellite is not possible since there are stringent size, weight and power (SWaP) constraints to stay within a launchable volume. Whereas optical fiber technology was introduced in terrestrial networks because of its high-capacity long-distance capabilities, it now provides an attractive path for short intra-satellite links thanks to its reduced size and mass compared to bulky RF waveguides. The current space-grade components are limited in availability and speed compared to their terrestrial counterparts. The challenge lies in the simultaneous optimization of the front-end electronics for radiation tolerance and for electro-optic co-design. Here, we will explore novel architectures and co-design the electronic and photonics chips to target a space-grade Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) link that can operate at a carrier frequency of 32 GHz with 5 GHz of bandwith while consuming less than 1 W.