EDRS-C on the shaker

EDRS-C is shown during the vibration tests at IABG Ottobrunn, in preparation for launch.

EDRS-C is the second node to the European Data Relay System, a unique public–private partnership between ESA and Airbus.

The system – dubbed the SpaceDataHighway by industry – provides data relay between low orbiting satellites and the EDRS nodes over optical links, with the information sent down to Europe in near-real time.

EDRS-C is the first dedicated EDRS satellite, and will double the system's capacity in orbit.

It is built by OHB System AG.