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Objectives
The project aims to study Data Relay Satellite capability.
The ESA Programme related to Data Relay Satellites (EDRS) is a major opportunity for the development of satellite telecommunications in Europe and throughout the world. The evolution of EDRS services will bring unrivalled data distribution channels for the future high data-rate missions and systems under development. Examples of missions and systems under development are launcher tracking and scientific missions, GMES, PROBA, dual-use and other national and European earth observation missions.
The project targets the definition of an ESA DRS mission. From a technical standpoint, the project contributes to identifying and consolidating the requirements of an efficient EDRS solution which includes suitable payloads and frequency bands. From a business standpoint, the project intends to identify the various business and governance options that may exist for providing DRS services to institutional and commercial customers.
In order to achieve a complete and effective examination of the issues, challenges, and perspectives of EDRS, the various elements that this EDRS Phase 0 study addresses cover technical as well as business aspects. This project consists of a series of five Work Packages (WP) defined for the Study. These are, Market Study WP1, Technical Study WP2, Regulatory Study WP3, Business Plan Analysis WP4 and Operational Scheme Study WP5.
Taking the Market Study (WP1) as an input, the Technical Study calculates options for the appropriate satellite and payload that can accommodate the EDRS mission. Trade-offs as well as different solutions (dedicated satellite vs. piggy-back payload) have been explored, in an iterative process with the Business Plan Analysis.
Depending on the type of mission under consideration, the Regulatory Study will also be essential in order to make sure that the proposed solution can actually interoperate in a frequency-coordinated way with neighbouring satellite operators. Once the main options have been examined from a technical and business point of view, the operational architecture and concept will be studied in WP5.
Challenges
N/A
Current Status
The project is finished and the study report was delivered and accepted by ESA.
Companies
