ESA’s EDRS transmits first data to earth using laser technology

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) European data relay system (EDRS) has successfully transmitted data to earth for the first time, using laser communications terminal (LCT) technology.

Also called the SpaceDataHighway, EDRS is said to provide high-speed and secure data transfer between low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, or aerial platforms and geostationary (GEO) satellites.

Airbus Defence and Space subsidiary Tesat-Spacecom developed the LCT technology in partnership with the German Aerospace Centre DLR.

During tests, the Sentinel-1 Earth observation satellite in LEO transmitted images to Alphasat communications satellite in GEO orbit, which relayed the signal to earth.

Data transfer rates reached 0.6GB a second over 45,000km between the LCTs, Airbus Defence and Space said.

Airbus Defence and Space communications, intelligence and security business line head Evert Dudok said: "This is a major step in the proof of the concept.

"Once operational, the EDRS – SpaceDataHighway will move boundaries of space-based data communication significantly.

"Besides Copernicus, the SpaceDataHighway will also serve many commercial and military applications that require such unparalleled near-real-time, high-bandwidth communication services."

The Copernicus project will use some of the SpaceDataHighway’s capacity for data communication, which will allow faster and efficient transfer of large, near real-time data of the Earth.

The remaining bandwidth will be commercially available for applications such as open ocean surveillance, to control unmanned aerial systems and re-configure satellites in orbit.

Airbus Defence and Space electronics business line head Thomas Müller said: "Our laser communication technology will revolutionise earth observation and satellite communication."

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, the first operational SpaceDataHighway LCT payload on the EUTELSAT 9B satellite is scheduled for launch in 2015, and a second spacecraft is planned for 2016.

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Image: EDRS is designed to transfer data between low earth orbit satellites and geostationary satellites. Photo: courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space.