SpaceDataHighway Commercial Data Relay Service and its Evolution 23rd Ka-Band Broadband - Optical Technology and Systems Panel Trieste, 17 th October 2017 Mr. Hughes Boulnois Airbus
SpaceDataHighway TM SpaceDataHighway (SDH) is the Data Relay Service based on the current and future infrastructure of the European Data Relay System (EDRS). It encompasses broadband Laser communication and Ka-band for Inter Satellite Links (ISL). SpaceDataHighway by Airbus 2
Why Laser Communication Free-space optical communication after decades of analyses/testing a mature technology, now evolving towards customization, broadband applications (Gbps) Finite amount of radio spectrum available for high bandwidth applications Overcrowded RF spectrum is prone to interference, interception, or jamming Laser Communication feature Low Probability of Intercept/Detection (LPI/LPD) Broadband communication demand is insatiable (e.g. unmanned aerial vehicles sending live streaming video to facilities, increase with higher resolution and nextgeneration sensors) 3
Objective: Receive actionable Information from a Satellite Space Latency can be up to 100 minutes of satellite traveling towards next ground contact SpaceDataHighway can minimize the Space Latency even beyond line of sight to direct receiving stations S1 EDRS-A Ground Processing Analysis Push Information Latency < 15 Minutes can be required 4
Space Latency Advantage through SpaceDataHighway Area of Interest Images to EDRS EDRS to Ground Direct to Ground 5
Space Latency Advantage through SpaceDataHighway Area of Interest Images to EDRS EDRS to Ground Direct to Ground 6
Space Latency Advantage through SpaceDataHighway Area of Interest Images to EDRS EDRS to Ground Direct to Ground 7
Space Latency Advantage through SpaceDataHighway Area of Interest Images to EDRS EDRS to Ground 70 s Direct to Ground 8
Space Latency Advantage through SpaceDataHighway Area of Interest Images to EDRS EDRS to Ground Direct to Ground 9
The Service has been successfully delivered since November 2016 to the Sentinel-1/2 satellite missions of European Copernicus program regular data backhaul from the Sentinel satellites mainly while they are orbiting beyond line of sight of the European ground station network is managed from the 24/7 Mission Operations Center (MOC) in Munich is initially delivered via the geostationary (GEO) relay node EDRS-A, to be complemented in 2018 by EDRS-C EDRS-A 9 East EDRS-C 31 East EDRS-D 80 157 East 10
Benefits for Copernicus and achieved Performance By end 2017 regular data backhaul from four Sentinel satellites increasing data collection capacity by 50% improving data collection flexibility Quasi-Real-Time data transmission capability Routine operations with Sentinel-1/2 Link times of 10-20 minutes per satellite and orbit since Nov 2016 > 4000 successful Laser links > 99% system availability 24/7 Mission Operations Centre 11
Complementary Services bi-directional relay service in Ka-band first operational case for a dedicated communications capability between Columbus Module of the International Space Station (ISS) and ground control in 2019 further application: tasking of LEO satellites, helping to improve imaging efficiency, and cross-cueing between satellites Ka-band receiver for LEO satellites goes into service in 2020 12
Evolution of Laser Communication Capabilities Next generation data relay node will have an efficient multi-head Laser communication solution for simultaneous service to multiple users Development of improved GEO LCT started to better meet market needs New features GEO-GEO cross link 3.6 Gbps bandwidth Dual Wavelength for interoperability with 1550nm *) Airborne bi-directional Improved operational features *) in international cooperation 13
Next Generation Data Relay Node EDRS-D Start of service: 2023 Over the Asia/Pacific region, equipped with next generation GEO LCTs Laser Cross link to repatriate user data from the Asia/Pacific region to Europe Interoperability with 1550 nm Laser Airbus examining business opportunities in the EDRS-D from creating a hosted payload alliance for a SpaceDataHighway collaboration 14
Evolution of LEO Laser Communication User Terminals Current Laser Communication Terminal (LCT) technology has proven its link quality and reliability on Sentinel satellites Development of new compact / light weight user terminals to make this technology more accessible also for smaller LEO satellites and a wider market New generation of terminals (LEO SMART LCT) are available in 2020 1/3 in mass & in volume Down sized as shown 16
Commercial Remote Sensing System benefits from SpaceDataHighway Satellites equipped with latest Laser Communication Technology to transfer data at 1.8 Gbps, enabling terabytes/day transmitted securely in quasi-real-time to ground Ka-band terminals allowing last minute tasking updates, even beyond ground stations line-of-sight To utilize SpaceDataHighway for: highest system reactivity lowest latency high volume data transfer Benefits: increased monitoring capability, and optimized operational efficiency (natural disasters, first line response for civil and military applications) 17 Pléiades Neo - Constellation of four optical VHR satellites - Launch in 2020 and 2022 - ½ million km² / day / satellite @ 30 cm
Opening SpaceDataHighway for Airborne Platforms Bi-directional link of hours/days Joint Aerial Layer Network support LPI/LPD Security / Resilience Development Partners capability demo prototyping operational demo certification operational service 2017-18 2020 + 18
www.edrs-spacedatahighway.com 19