Optical LEO-GEO Data Relays: From Demonstrator to Commercial Application

Laser Communication in Space have left the status of R&D programs and are now used in commercial satellite communication systems. The European Data Relay System (EDRS) is currently being implemented as the first commercially operational laser based LEO-GEO data relay service, creating a Space Data Highway for earth observation missions. It is based on the Tesat Laser Communication Terminal, which was developed under contract from DLR for long-term communication service in LEO and GEO orbits. This paper provides an overview of the optical data relay system and its advantages and describes the results of first links from GEO to ground obtained recently during in-orbit commissioning on EDRS precursor mission Alphasat TDP1.