Artemis

In July, ESA launched Artemis (Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite), an advanced telecommunication satellite.

Its most innovative application will be the transmission of data – both by radio links and by laser – from one satellite to another.

As a result, Envisat will sometimes be able to relay its data to Earth via Artemis, rather than always having to be in contact with a ground station or storing data on board on tape or solid-state recorders. This is a particular advantage for the high data rate instruments, MERIS and ASAR.