Overview

The European Data Relay System (EDRS) is a developing constellation of European relay satellites situated in GEO. EDRS is designed to facilitate communications for spacecraft, LEO satellites, ground stations, and UAVs at all times, regardless of where a transmitter is relative to its receiver. EDRS functions in the S-, Ku-, and Ka-bands and also uses laser communications at 1064nm for intra-satellite information relay. [1]

On August 6, 2019, the EDRS-C was launched into GEO with a full laser payload. Its purpose is to begin the foundation of the EDRS constellation which will enable scientists to view satellite imagery in real time at any time they choose. [2]

On January 30, 2016, the EDRS-A was launched on-board a standard TV satellite for European customers. [3] EDRS-A contains a laser communication terminal and a Ka-band RF transmitter. Its purpose is to transmit information from its GEO orbit down to ground stations for information relay. [4]

The EDRS has also been used to deliver internet communications to the ISS, providing “speeds of up to 50 Mbit/s for downlink and up to 2 Mbit/s for uplink.”[5].

In June of 2023 the system reached the milestone of 75,000 links with LEO earth observation satellites, and a total data transmitted of 4.5 petabytes. [6]

Related Links

Paper: Status of the Space Data Highway System for EDRS (2015)

Website: SPIE OPO 2020 Conference Proceedings

[5] ESA – Data-relay system connects astronauts direct to Europe