For planet earth and beyond
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.
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.
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.
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.
The high-performance and low-cost LEROS 10 thruster, developed by Nammo Westcott Ltd in the frame of ESA’s Neosat Partnership Project, has recently completed its comprehensive qualification programme and is ready to perform its role in the attitude control and station-keeping of geostationary communication satellites.
At the ESA Ministerial Council Space19+ held in November 2019 in Seville, Member States determined the funding available for ESA’s programmes for the next three years. They endorsed the most ambitious plan to date for the future of ESA and of the European space sector.
The use of dielectric materials in sensors for a multitude of applications such as self-driving cars has made dielectric science and technology research even more significant than before, according to Professor Durga Misra, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Medical emergencies are set to be better managed thanks to air ambulances being equipped with space-enabled technology.
Konnect, the first Spacebus Neo satellite built by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor on behalf of operator Eutelsat, has completed its tests and is ready to be shipped to its launch site in French Guiana.
The antenna that will enable the full reconfiguration in orbit of a commercial telecommunications satellite is about to be integrated onto Eutelsat Quantum, a satellite which will change the way that satellite communication is performed.