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EDRS C / HYLAS 3

EDRS C / HYLAS 3 [ESA]

EDRS C (European Data Relay Satellite C) is one component of the European data relay system. Astrium will be the prime contactor of this satellite with OHB System providing the bus.

The EDRS’s two telecommunication payloads in geostationary orbit will enable broadband, bi-directional data relay between Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and an associated ground segment via either of the EDRS payloads. The EDRS increases the time LEO spacecraft can be in communication with the ground and enables immediate broadband data transfer to the user. It also provides the capability to re-programme LEO Earth observation (EO) satellites in almost real-time. This ensures the timely acquisition and delivery of imagery following natural disasters, and helps emergency services on the ground to accurately map the affected areas and effectively coordinate response efforts. Currently, LEO satellites can only be reprogrammed and images can only be received when the satellites pass over a specific geographic location with a dedicated ground station.

EDRS shall comprise of two data relay payloads in geostationary orbit and a ground segment. The two payloads in geostationary orbit are referred to as EDRS-A and EDRS-C while the ground segment includes a mission and operations ground segment (consisting of an EDRS satellite control centre(s), an EDRS mission and operations centre and an EDRS feeder link station) and an EDRS user ground segment.

The London-based satellite communications firm Avanti is to raise £74 million from its shareholders to build a Ka-band broadband communications payload called HYLAS 3 which is to be placed on EDRS satellite. MDA will build the Ka-band paylaod. The HYLAS 3 payload will complement the HYLAS 1 communications satellite already in orbit and the HYLAS 2 satellite which is due to be launched later this year. While HYLAS 1 and HYLAS 2 are designed to serve the EMEA countries around the Mediterranean, the HYLAS 3 payload will primarily serve Africa. HYLAS 3 will have up to 4 GHz of Ka-band capacity. This will be configured across eight beams within a single steerable antenna that can provide coverage of an area equivalent to a region the size of Southern Africa and can be moved throughout the life of the satellite. The satellite will be positioned in one of Avanti’s orbital locations with an earth view covering Africa and the Middle East.

OHB System and EADS Astrium signed in May 2013 a contract for the construction of the satellite. OHB will build the satellite based on the SmallGEO bus with TESAT providing the laser communication payload. EDRS-C was planned to be launched in 2016, but was delayed to mid 2018 and then to early 2019.

A launch on an Ariane-5ECA is planned, but in case no suitable co passenger could be found, it can also fly on a Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT.

Nation: Europe
Type / Application: Relay, communication
Operator: ESA, HYLAS
Contractors: EADS Astrium → Airbus Defence and Space (prime); OHB-System GmbH (bus); MDA (Ka-band payload)
Equipment: EDRS payload, Ka-band payload
Configuration: SmallGEO (LUXOR) bus
Propulsion:
Power: 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime: 15 years
Mass: 3186 kg
Orbit: GEO
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
EDRS C/HYLAS 3 2019-049A 06.08.2019 Ko ELA-3 Ariane-5ECA+ with Intelsat 39

References:

Further EDRS missions:
Further HYLAS missions:

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