EDRS C / HYLAS 3

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.