European Data Relay System: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:49, 6 October 2019

Revision as of 00:46, 14 October 2019

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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|accessdate=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/|accessdate=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/|accessdate=18 August 2017|publisher=Space Intel Report|date=15 April 2017}}</ref> and will be positioned at 31°E.<ref>{{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|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{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)|doi = |pmid = |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. Two further spacecraft are planned to complement the system from 2020 onwards, affording a complete coverage of the Earth and providing long-term system redundancy beyond 2030.