Alphasat Poster - Technology Demonstration Payloads

In addition to the large and powerful communications payload, Alphasat carries four hosted payloads developed through ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme, to qualify new technologies in space.

• Laser communication and Ka-band downlink (TESAT, Germany, supported by DLR). A precursor to the future European Data Relay System EDRS.
• Q/V-band communication and propagation (Thales Alenia Space and Space Engineering, Italy)
• Startracker (Jena-Optronik, Germany)
• Environmental testing and radiation sensor (Efacec, Portugal)