ESA Telecommunications & Integrated Applications

• Second space data highway satellite set to beam

  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.

  EDRS-C is the second satellite in the system and was launched on 6 August.

• First Spacebus Neo satellite launched

  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.

• Vacancy for the post of Director of Telecommunications

  The European Space Agency is currently looking for a new Director of Telecommunications to join its executive board and support the Director General, with responsibility for relevant ESA programmes and overall objectives.

• Plant-powered sensor sends signal to space

  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 Konnect satellite is placed within the fairing
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