 | | | | |
| | | | | |
|
| TIA - About Telecommunications ESA's Telecommunication Programmes Programme overviewAlphasatSmall GEOEDRS IrisArtemisIntegrated Applications Promotion (IAP) Documentation Multimedia Image galleryVideo galleryRSS feeds Services CalendarSubscribe
| | | | | | | EDRS
The European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS) system, which is being developed under ARTES 7, will be an independent, European satellite system designed to reduce time delays in the transmission of large quantities of data.
To add to Europe’s independence, the EDRS system will provide a telecommunications network that is fast, reliable and seamless. It will make on-demand data available at the right place at the right time, and will ultimately save lives in search and rescue operations.
Data relay satellites are satellites placed in geostationary orbit to relay information to and from non-geostationary satellites, spacecraft, other vehicles and fixed Earth stations, which otherwise are not able to permanently communicate.
Why is it needed now?
Despite the present telecommunication capabilities, there are still a number of limitations that delay the delivery of time-critical data to users. With the implementation of the joint European Commission/ESA Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme, it is estimated that the European space telecommunications infrastructure will need to transmit six terabytes of data every day from space to ground.
Our present telecommunications infrastructure will be challenged to deliver such large quantities of data with short time delays. Conventional means of communication may not be sufficient to provide the quality of service required by users of Earth observation data.
In addition, Europe currently relies on the availability of non-European ground station antennas to receive data from Earth observation satellites. This poses a potential threat to the strategic independence of Europe, as these crucial space assets may not be under European control. The EDRS System offers a solution to these challenges.
How will it be done?
ESA is currently looking at the feasibility and foundations for the EDRS system. Definition of the system will take until end of 2009. Payload development and system and user segment developments will be ready for an implementation of the system and the mission itself is planned for 2012.
Who will implement it?
ESA will select a suitable private service provider to deliver services to ESA’s own missions and other future customers. The project will take the form of a ‘partnership’ between ESA and the service provider, who then will then liaise with the satellite operator(s) and satellite prime contractor(s) to build the EDRS infrastructure.
What are the benefits?
There are a number of key services that will benefit from this systems infrastructure right from the start:
- Earth Observation applications in support of a multitude of time-critical services, e.g. monitoring of land-surface motion risks, forest fires, floods and sea ice zones
- Government and security services that need images from key European space systems such as Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
- Rescue teams that need Earth observation data in disaster areas
- Security forces that transmit data to Earth observation satellites, aircraft and unmanned aerial observation vehicles, to reconfigure such systems in real time
- Relief forces that operate among their units in the field and require telecommunication support in cut-off areas
Last update: 2 July 2009 | |
| | Telecommunications and Intergrated Applications Documentation EDRS fact sheet: [PDF file: ~920 kB]Related links ARTES 7 EDRS |
QuickTime