European Data Relay System
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| European Data Relay System | |
|---|---|
| Mission name | European Data Relay System |
| Operator | European Space Agency |
| Spacecraft | Eutelsat |
| Launch site | Guiana Space Centre |
European Data Relay System is a European Space Agency (ESA) program aimed at providing a data relay service between low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and the ground, using geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites as relay stations, in collaboration with Eutelsat, Thales Alenia Space, and Astrium. The system is designed to enable the transmission of large amounts of data from LEO satellites to the ground in near real-time, leveraging the capabilities of European Astronaut Centre and European Space Operations Centre. This is particularly useful for applications such as Earth observation, meteorology, and space exploration, which require the rapid transmission of large amounts of data, often in conjunction with NASA, Roscosmos, and China National Space Administration.
Introduction
The European Data Relay System (EDRS) is a critical component of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Telecom strategy, which aims to provide a comprehensive range of telecommunications services to support the agency's space missions, including those of International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, and Gaia (spacecraft). The EDRS is designed to provide a high-speed data relay service between LEO satellites and the ground, using GEO satellites as relay stations, in partnership with Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intelsat. This enables the rapid transmission of large amounts of data from LEO satellites to the ground, which is essential for many space applications, such as Earth observation, meteorology, and space exploration, often in collaboration with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
History
The development of the EDRS began in the early 2000s, with the ESA issuing a call for proposals for the development of a data relay system, which was responded to by Thales Alenia Space, Astrium, and EADS Astrium. The contract for the development of the EDRS was awarded to Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space) in 2008, with Eutelsat as the prime contractor for the satellite platform, and Thales Alenia Space as the subcontractor for the payload, in collaboration with CNES, DLR, and ASI. The first EDRS satellite, Eutelsat 9B, was launched in 2016, and the second satellite, Eutelsat 9B's sister satellite, was launched in 2017, from Guiana Space Centre, using Ariane 5 launch vehicle, and Vega (rocket), with support from European Space Operations Centre and European Astronaut Centre.
Architecture
The EDRS consists of two main components: the LEO satellite and the GEO satellite, which are connected through a laser communication system, developed by Tesat-Spacecom, and DLR, in partnership with NASA, MIT, and Stanford University. The LEO satellite is equipped with a laser communication terminal, which transmits data to the GEO satellite, which then relays the data to the ground, using European Space Agency's European Space Operations Centre and Redu ground station, in collaboration with EUMETSAT, NOAA, and United States Air Force. The GEO satellite is also equipped with a Ka-band communication system, which provides a high-speed data link between the satellite and the ground, in partnership with Inmarsat, Intelsat, and SES S.A..
Operations
The EDRS is operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with Eutelsat, which provides the satellite platform and the launch services, and Thales Alenia Space, which provides the payload, in partnership with CNES, DLR, and ASI. The system is controlled from the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, with support from European Astronaut Centre, and Redu ground station, in collaboration with NASA, Roscosmos, and China National Space Administration. The EDRS provides a 24/7 service, with a high level of availability and reliability, ensuring that critical data is transmitted rapidly and efficiently, often in conjunction with International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, and Gaia (spacecraft).
Missions_and_Applications
The EDRS has a wide range of applications, including Earth observation, meteorology, and space exploration, in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The system is used to support the Copernicus programme, which provides Earth observation data for a wide range of applications, including land monitoring, marine monitoring, and atmospheric monitoring, in collaboration with ESA, EC, and EUMETSAT. The EDRS is also used to support the International Space Station (ISS) programme, providing a high-speed data link between the ISS and the ground, in partnership with NASA, Roscosmos, and JAXA.
Technical_Specifications
The EDRS uses a laser communication system to transmit data between the LEO satellite and the GEO satellite, with a data rate of up to 1.8 Gigabit per second, developed by Tesat-Spacecom, and DLR, in partnership with NASA, MIT, and Stanford University. The system uses a Ka-band communication system to transmit data between the GEO satellite and the ground, with a data rate of up to 600 Megabit per second, in partnership with Inmarsat, Intelsat, and SES S.A.. The EDRS satellites are equipped with a laser communication terminal, which is designed to provide a high-speed data link between the satellite and the ground, in collaboration with European Space Agency's European Space Operations Centre and Redu ground station, and EUMETSAT, NOAA, and United States Air Force. The system is designed to provide a high level of availability and reliability, with a minimum of 99.9% availability per year, in partnership with CNES, DLR, and ASI.