ESA Telecommunications & Integrated Applications

• Iris system takes first flight
  
  

  Europe is one step closer to a safer, cleaner sky, as the Iris aviation satcom system completes its first set of test flights.

• EDRS-C on the home stretch
  
  

  ESA’s laser satellite EDRS-C has settled at its new home in Munich for the last tests before launch.

• Space photons bring a new dimension to cryptography
  
  

  ESA and its partners will investigate how satellites can distribute photon ‘keys’ to help secure encryption.

• Full house for EDRS
  
  

  The EDRS–SpaceDataHighway has now begun regularly relaying Earth images from Sentinel-2A, which marks the last of four Copernicus satellites in orbit being brought under the EDRS service.

• Satellites paint a detailed picture of maritime activity
  
  

  ESA has helped coastal authorities to track up to 70% more ships and pick up nearly three times more ship positions via satellite than was possible before.