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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The European Data Relay System (EDRS) is the most sophisticated laser communication network ever designed. Dubbed the ‘SpaceDataHighway’, EDRS will help Earth-observing satellites to transmit large quantities of potentially life-saving data down to Europe in near-real time. Its two geostationary satellites use optical links to gather low-orbiting satellites’ information at far higher data rates than traditional radio frequency beams.
Low Earth orbiting satellites must be in direct line-of-sight with their ground stations to pass on the information they’ve gathered while circling the Earth. This leaves an average of 10 minutes of downlink time for every 100 minute orbit. The data must be stored for the rest of the time. EDRS solves this problem by intercepting the LEO satellite’s data from its position in geostationary orbit, permanently holding its position over the EDRS ground stations and remaining in contact at all times