For planet earth and beyond
Our society and economy are increasingly dependent on secure telecommunications networks. These networks are required for the secure operation of critical infrastructures, governmental services or in transport.
Our society and economy are increasingly dependent on secure telecommunications networks. These networks are required for the secure operation of critical infrastructures, governmental services or in transport.
Communications company OneWeb has added a further 34 satellites to its proposed constellation of 650, taking the total number launched so far to 40.
In Star Trek, ‘subspace’ or faster-than-light (FTL) communications are a means of instantly establishing contact with people and places light years away. While FTL only exists on the Enterprise, elsewhere in the universe anything which can improve the speed of a spacecraft’s communications is desirable. This is especially the case where control of the payload, the satellite’s precious cargo, is concerned.
As part of Neosat, one of ESA's Artes Partnership Projects, the Airbus Eurostar Neo platform began its mechanical qualification test campaign at the end of 2019.
Airbus Defence and Space makes its first shipment of Eurostar Neo flight hardware out of its Stevenage Factory. The massive Communications Module, or CM, is now in its Portsmouth site, where it will be equipped with communications equipment.
The ESAIL microsatellite for tracking ships at sea has completed its latest environmental and system performance tests and set off for Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Cybercrime is a global scourge – with expenditures on its fallout increasing dramatically. The cost can be financially crippling for companies who often lack the skills to deal with ever-increasing threats. The RHEA Group, under the Technology and Product Phase of ESA’s ARTES Competitiveness & Growth Programme, have now masterminded a Cyber Security Centre for Excellence (CSCE) for advanced cybersecurity technologies.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station plan to install a high-speed radio link to enable almost real-time connections with Earth. The upgrade to the ESA Columbus laboratory will relay data from experiments on the Station back to Earth almost instantaneously. The fridge-sized device will fly to the Station aboard Northrop Grumman’s 12th Cygnus supply ship on 9 February.
The second satellite in the European Data Relay System has reached its intended orbit and completed its in-orbit tests. Dubbed the “SpaceDataHighway” by its commercial operator Airbus, EDRS uses innovative laser technology to enable Earth-observation satellites to deliver their information to users on the ground in near real-time, accelerating responses to emergency situations and spurring the development of new services and products.