European Data Relay System: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Group of communication satellites}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = European Data Relay System

| image = European Data Relay System laser communication terminal.jpg

| image_caption = The [[Laser]] communication terminal of an EDRS satellite

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The '''European Data Relay System''' ('''EDRS''') system is a European [[satellite constellation|constellation]] of [[geosynchronous orbit|GEO]] satellites that relay information and data [[inter-satellite radiocommunication|between satellites]], spacecraft, [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAVs]], and ground stations. The designersfirst intendcomponents the(a systempayload toand providededicated almostGEO full-timesatellite) communication,were even with satelliteslaunched in [[low Earth orbit]] that often have reduced visibility from ground stations. It makes on-demand data available to, for example, rescue workers who want near-real-time satellite data of a2016 crisisand region2019.

==Purpose and context==

The system has been developed as part of the [[ARTES]] 7 programme and is intended to be an independent, European satellite system that reduces time delays in the transmission of large quantities of data. The programme is similar to the American [[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System]] that was set up to support the Space Shuttle—but EDRS is using a new generation [[Laser communication in space|Laser Communication Terminal]] (LCT) which carries data at a much larger [[bit rate]]: the laser terminal transmits 1.8 Gbit/s across 45,000&nbsp;km (the distance of a LEO-GEO link),<ref name=VA249-2019/> while the TDRSS provides ground reception rates of 600 Mbit/s in the [[S-band]] and 800 Mbit/s in the [[Ku band|Ku-]] and [[Ka band|Ka-bands]].<ref name=ISS-comms-2019>{{Cite web|first=Matt |last=Williams |publisher=Universe Today |title=The ISS Now Has Better Internet Than Most of Us After Its Latest Upgrade |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/the-iss-now-has-better-internet-than-most-of-us-after-its-latest-upgrade|date=26 Aug 2019|access-date=2020-06-23|website=ScienceAlert|language=en-gb}}</ref>

The designers intend the system to provide almost full-time communication, even with satellites in [[low Earth orbit]] that often have reduced visibility from ground stations. It makes on-demand data available to, for example, rescue workers who want near-real-time satellite data of a crisis region.

There are a number of key services that will benefit from this system's infrastructure:

Such a terminal was successfully tested in 2007/8 during in-orbit verification between the German radar satellite [[TerraSAR-X]] and the American [[Near Field Infrared Experiment|NFIRE]] satellite, both in LEO, when it achieved 5.5 gigabits per second.<ref name=TerraSAR-X-NFIRE-2009>[https://www.dlr.de/content/en/downloads/news-archive/2009/20090615_two-years-of-successful-operation-for-germany-s-terrasar-x-the-earth-observation-satellite_17874.pdf ''Two years of successful operation for Germany's TerraSAR-X, the Earth

* Earth Observation applications in support of time-critical and/or data-intensive services; e.g., change detection, [[environmental monitoring]].

observation satellite'' DLR June 2009]</ref> A similar LCT was installed on the commercial telecommunication satellite [[Alphasat]].<ref> [http://telecom.esa.int/telecom/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=1138 Alphasat] {{webarchive|url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091223045943/http://telecom.esa.int/telecom/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=1138 |date=2009-12-23 }}</ref>

* Government and security services that need images from key European space systems such as Global Monitoring for Environment and Security.

* Emergency response and crisis intervention applications that need information and data over areas affected by natural or man-made disasters.

* Security forces that transmit data to Earth observation satellites, aircraft and unmanned aerial observation vehicles, to reconfigure such systems in real time.

* Weather satellite services that require the fast delivery of large quantities of data around the world.

The system has been developed as part of the [[ARTES]] 7 programme and is intended to be an independent, European satellite system that reduces time delays in the transmission of large quantities of data. The programme is similar to the American [[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System]] that was set up to support the Space Shuttle—but EDRS is using a new generation [[Laserlaser communication in space|Laser Communication Terminalterminal]] (LCT) which carries data at a much larger [[bit rate]]: the laser terminal transmits 1.8 &nbsp;Gbit/s across 45,000&nbsp;km (the distance of a LEO-GEO link),<ref name=VA249-2019/> while the TDRSS provides ground reception rates of 600 &nbsp;Mbit/s in the [[S-band]] and 800 &nbsp;Mbit/s in the [[Ku band|Ku-]] and [[Ka band|Ka-bands]].<ref name=ISS-comms-2019>{{Cite web|first=Matt |last=Williams |publisher=Universe Today |title=The ISS Now Has Better Internet Than Most of Us After Its Latest Upgrade |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/the-iss-now-has-better-internet-than-most-of-us-after-its-latest-upgrade|date=26 Aug 2019|access-date=2020-06-23|website=ScienceAlert|language=en-gb}}</ref>

Such a terminal was successfully tested in 2007/8 during in-orbit verification between the German radar satellite [[TerraSAR-X]] and the American [[Near Field Infrared Experiment|NFIRE]] satellite, both in LEO, when it achieved 5.5 gigabits per second.<ref name=TerraSAR-X-NFIRE-2009>[https://www.dlr.de/content/en/downloads/news-archive/2009/20090615_two-years-of-successful-operation-for-germany-s-terrasar-x-the-earth-observation-satellite_17874.pdf ''Two years of successful operation for Germany's TerraSAR-X, the Earth observation satellite'' DLR June 2009]{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A similar LCT was installed on the commercial telecommunication satellite [[Alphasat]].<ref>[http://telecom.esa.int/telecom/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=1138 Alphasat] {{webarchive|url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091223045943/http://telecom.esa.int/telecom/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=1138 |date=2009-12-23 }}</ref>

== Network ==

EDRS infrastructure will consistconsists of two geostationary payloads (two furtheroptical payloads areand ina theKa planningband stage)payload, a ground system consisting of a satellite control centre, a mission and operations centre, a feeder link ground station (FLGS), and four data ground stations.

=== Space Segmentsegment ===

The first EDRS payload, '''EDRS-A''', comprising a laser communication terminal and a [[Ka band|K_a band]] inter-satellite link, was placed on-board [[Eutelsat]] commercial telecommunication satellite, called Eutelsat 9B (COSPAR 2016-005A). The satellite was launched in January 2016 by a [[Proton-M]] rocket and will be positioned at 9°E.<ref name="Eutelsat9Blaunched">{{cite web|title=Lift-off for Europe's space laser network|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35446894|website=bbc.com|date=30 January 2016|access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2014/01/16/ils-to-launch-eutelsat-9b-satellite-in-2015/ ILS to Launch Eutelsat 9B Satellite in 2015]</ref>

A second EDRS payload was launched aboard a dedicated spacecraft. The '''EDRS-C''' (COSPAR 2019-049A), which is also carrying a laser communication terminal, was launched on 6 August 2019<ref name=EDRS-C>{{cite news|title=Arianespace selected by Airbus Defence and Space to launch EDRS-C satellite|url=http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-selected-by-airbus-defence-and-space-to-launch-edrs-c-satellite/|access-date=4 October 2015|publisher=Arianespace|date=19 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=EDRS-C-2018>{{cite news|title=Europe's EDRS-C/Hylas-3 satellite launch set for early 2018|url=https://www.spaceintelreport.com/europes-edrschylas3-satellite-launch-set-for-early-2018/|access-date=18 August 2017|publisher=Space Intel Report|date=15 April 2017}}</ref> and will be positioned at 31°E.<ref name=VA249-2019>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/VA249-press-kit_EN.pdf|title=Ariane-5 VA249: Intelsat 39 / EDRS-C press kit |date=Aug 2019}}</ref><ref name=Haus-2012>{{Cite journal|url = http://icsos2014.nict.go.jp/contents/pdf/S1-3.pdf|title = European Data Relay System – one year to go!|last = Hauschildt|first = Harald|date = 2012|journal = International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS)|access-date = 2015-09-07}}</ref> The satellite also carries a payload meant for commercial communication satellite use, the [[HYLAS 3]] payload. Thus the satellite is sometimes referred to as '''EDRS-C/HYLAS 3''' or something similar.

The EDRS A and C form the initial core [[space infrastructure]] that provides direct coverage for LEO satellites over Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Poles. TwoThe furtherinitial spacecraftplan arewas plannedto develop two further spacecraft to complement the system from 2020 onwards, affording a complete coverage of the Earth and providing long-term system redundancy beyond 2030.

=== Ground Segmentsegment ===

The [[ground segment]] of EDRS includes three [[ground station|ground receiving station]]s located at Weilheim, Germany, Redu, Belgium and Harwell, UK. The prime [[Mission Operations Centre]] is in Ottobrunn, Germany, while a backup centre will beis installed in Redu, Belgium.<ref name="EDRS Operations Center">[http://www.esa.int/esaTE/SEMBNN7YBZG_index_0.html EDRS Operations Center]</ref>

The EDRS-A payload as well as the EDRS-C satellite are operated by the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) of the [[German Aerospace Center]] in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich, Germany.

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== Operations ==

The first users for EDRS will bewere the [[Sentinel (satellite)|Sentinel-1 and -2 satellites]] of the [[Copernicus Programme]] (formerly the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security or GMES). The Sentinel satellites will provide data for the operational provision of geo-information products and services throughout Europe and the globe. EDRS will provideprovides the data relay services for the Sentinel satellites since 2016, facilitating a rapid downlink of large volumes of imagery.data Extensive(including furtherimagery, capacitiesvoice, onand thevideo).<ref systemname=":0" will be available for third party users./>

== Implementation ==

There are a number of key services that will benefit from this system's infrastructure:

* Earth Observation applications in support of time-critical and/or data-intensive services; e.g., change detection, environmental monitoring.

* Government and security services that need images from key European space systems such as Global Monitoring for Environment and Security.

* Emergency response and crisis intervention applications that need information and data over areas affected by natural or man-made disasters.

* Security forces that transmit data to Earth observation satellites, aircraft and unmanned aerial observation vehicles, to reconfigure such systems in real time.

* Weather satellite services that require the fast delivery of large quantities of data around the world.

EDRS is being implemented as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) and [[Airbus Defence & Space]] (ADS, former Astrium).<ref name="ESA and Astrium sign PPP">[http://www.esa.int/esaTE/SEMQD49U7TG_index_0.html EDRS: An independent data-relay system for Europe becoming reality]</ref> ESA funds the infrastructure development and is the anchor customer through the Sentinel satellite missions. ADS will carry the overall responsibility for the implementation of the space segment including launch, as well as the ground segment. ADS will then{{when|date=October 2021}} take over ownership of EDRS and will provide the data transmission services to ESA and customers worldwide.

== Implementation ==

{{update after|2016}}

{{As of|2023|05}}, EDRS has over one million minutes of communications<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-25 |title=EDRS reached 1,000,000 minutes of communications! |url=https://securecommunications.airbus.com/en/news/edrs-is-reaching-1000000-minutes-of-communications |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=[[Airbus]] |language=en}}</ref> with more than 75,000 successful inter-satellite links.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-24 |title=SpaceDataHighway reaches milestone of 50,000 successful laser connections |url=https://securecommunications.airbus.com/en/news/spacedatahighway-reaches-milestone-of-50000-successful-laser-connections |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=[[Airbus]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-18 |title=AUTO-TDS: ENABLING LASER COMMUNICATION NETWORKS TO AUTO DETECT INCOMING LINKS, SECURING CONNECTION AND AUTO-ROUTING THE DATA |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364459515 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=[[ResearchGate]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Heine |first1=Frank |last2=Brzoska |first2=Andrej |last3=Gregory |first3=Mark |last4=Hiemstra |first4=T. |last5=Mahn |first5=Robert |last6=Pimentel |first6=Patricia Martin |last7=Zech |first7=Herwig |chapter=Status on laser communication activities at Tesat-Spacecom |editor-first1=Hamid |editor-first2=Bryan S. |editor-last1=Hemmati |editor-last2=Robinson |date=2023-03-15 |title=Free-Space Laser Communications XXXV |chapter-url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/12413/124130C/Status-on-laser-communication-activities-at-Tesat-Spacecom/10.1117/12.2648425.full |publisher=SPIE |volume=12413 |pages=83–93 |doi=10.1117/12.2648425|bibcode=2023SPIE12413E..0CH |isbn=9781510659315 |s2cid=257574400 }}</ref>

EDRS is being implemented as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) and [[Airbus Defence & Space]] (ADS, former Astrium).<ref name="ESA and Astrium sign PPP">[http://www.esa.int/esaTE/SEMQD49U7TG_index_0.html EDRS: An independent data-relay system for Europe becoming reality]</ref> ESA funds the infrastructure development and is the anchor customer through the Sentinel satellite missions. ADS will carry the overall responsibility for the implementation of the space segment including launch, as well as the ground segment. ADS will then take over ownership of EDRS and will provide the data transmission services to ESA and customers worldwide.

== See also ==