3 Mar 2020
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.
27 Feb 2020
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.
23 Mar 2020
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.
24 Feb 2020
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.
2 Mar 2020
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.
7 Feb 2020
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.
29 Jan 2020
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.
17 Jan 2020
Ariane 5’s first launch of 2020 has delivered two telecom satellites, Konnect and GSAT-30, into their planned transfer orbits. Arianespace announced liftoff at 21:05 GMT (22:05 CET, 18:05 local time) this evening from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
27 Feb 2020
A device that uses electricity generated by plants as its power source has communicated via satellite – a world first. Such sensors could be used to connect everyday objects in remote locations, enabling them to send and receive data as part of the Internet of Things.
13 Jan 2020
The first satellite developed under an initiative to help European industry deliver competitive satellites for the commercial telecommunications market has entered its final phase before launch.