The communications antenna for the Columbus module on the International Space Station undergoes testing prior to launch. Dubbed ColKa for ‘Columbus Ka-band antenna’, the upgraded system will allow astronauts and researchers to benefit from a direct link with Europe at home broadband speeds of up to 50 Mbit/s for downlink and up to 2 Mbit/s for uplink. It will use the European Data Relay System (EDRS) to transmit information from the International Space Station upwards to the EDRS satellites that orbit higher above the Earth and enable a direct link to Europe at all times.