OrbitalHub

Credits: ESA

ESA is developing a new satellite communication system that will revolutionize the way Europe gets its information from space. This new communication system is called EDRSS – the European Data Relay Satellite System.

EDRSS will use geostationary satellites to communicate with both ground stations and satellites that are operating in low Earth orbits.

EDRSS will allow low Earth orbit satellites to deliver data continuously, instead of storing it on board and sending it to Earth while flying over a ground station. EDRSS will consist of a network of satellites that will communicate between themselves as well as with the ground stations. This new infrastructure will increase the speed at which ground stations receive data from satellites, thereby improving global communication, navigation, and Earth observation.

EDRSS will serve as a communication infrastructure and it will improve many key services: monitoring earthquakes, forest fires, floods, and aircraft navigation, just to name a few.

You can watch an ESA video cast for more details.