The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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ESA is helping to unlock next-generation space connectivity to support communication everywhere and anywhere through the advancement of a new software platform from Aalyria, an innovative young company.
Satellites, high-altitude platforms and drones, operating high above Earth’s surface, play a vital role in supporting wireless connectivity systems. ESA has awarded a development contract to advanced networking and laser communications company Aalyria, to build a software platform that will harness the power of these assets to support 5G/6G connectivity.
The project aims to build 5G/6G compatibility into Aalyria’s Spacetime system; a software platform that can bring together a wide range of systems to form networks that cover space, air, sea and land. Unlike fixed-position assets on Earth, those operating in the atmosphere and in space are in constant motion relative to our planet, to each other and to potential users. Bringing them together has been challenging in the past, as it has relied on bespoke systems that are not designed for interoperability.