Jacques van Oene
July 1st 05, 09:39 AM
SILEX : More than one thousand successful optical links
June 30th, 2005
In June 2005, the thousandth optical communication was performed
successfully between the European Space Agency's geostationary technology
satellite ARTEMIS and the remote sensing SPOT4 CNES satellite. The SILEX
optical data relay link is fully operational since October 2003. This link
is used on a daily basis either to have real time pictures from distant
areas or to empty the memory of the SPOT4 earth observation satellite.
This important step demonstrates the maturity and reliability of laser
technology for free space communications, as all communications were
established successfully.
This fall, a further step will take place when new optical communications
will be established between the ARTEMIS satellite and the OICETS spacecraft
of the JAXA agency.
EADS Astrium, in charge of the SILEX program, has designed, integrated and
tested both SPOT4 and ARTEMIS optical terminals with the support of more
than 20 European subcontractors. EADS Astrium is now developing a new
optical demonstrator for the French Defence Agency in the frame of the LOLA
(Liaison Optique Laser Aéroportée).program aiming at validating optical
links for UAV applications. The first LOLA optical communications between an
aircraft and the ARTEMIS satellite will be performed in summer 2006.
EADS Astrium is Europe's leading satellite system specialist. Its activities
cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation
systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and
equipment.
EADS Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated
to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2004 EADS SPACE had a
turnover of ?2.6 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United
Kingdom and Spain.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services.
In 2004, EADS generated revenues of ?31.8 billion and employed a workforce
of more than 110,000.
Contacts:
Rémi ROLAND
EADS SPACE (FR)Tel: +33 (0) 1 42 24 27 34
Alistair Scott
EADS SPACE (UK)Tel: +44 (0) 1438 77 3698
Mathias PIKELJ
EADS SPACE (GER)Tel: +49 (0) 7545 8 91 23
Hendrik Thielemann
(GER)Tel: +49 (0) 89 607 2 72 44
Jeremy CLOSE
Tel: +44 (0) 1438 77 3872
Francisco LECHÓN
EADS SPACE (E)Tel: +34 (0) 91 586 37 41
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
June 30th, 2005
In June 2005, the thousandth optical communication was performed
successfully between the European Space Agency's geostationary technology
satellite ARTEMIS and the remote sensing SPOT4 CNES satellite. The SILEX
optical data relay link is fully operational since October 2003. This link
is used on a daily basis either to have real time pictures from distant
areas or to empty the memory of the SPOT4 earth observation satellite.
This important step demonstrates the maturity and reliability of laser
technology for free space communications, as all communications were
established successfully.
This fall, a further step will take place when new optical communications
will be established between the ARTEMIS satellite and the OICETS spacecraft
of the JAXA agency.
EADS Astrium, in charge of the SILEX program, has designed, integrated and
tested both SPOT4 and ARTEMIS optical terminals with the support of more
than 20 European subcontractors. EADS Astrium is now developing a new
optical demonstrator for the French Defence Agency in the frame of the LOLA
(Liaison Optique Laser Aéroportée).program aiming at validating optical
links for UAV applications. The first LOLA optical communications between an
aircraft and the ARTEMIS satellite will be performed in summer 2006.
EADS Astrium is Europe's leading satellite system specialist. Its activities
cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation
systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and
equipment.
EADS Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated
to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2004 EADS SPACE had a
turnover of ?2.6 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United
Kingdom and Spain.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services.
In 2004, EADS generated revenues of ?31.8 billion and employed a workforce
of more than 110,000.
Contacts:
Rémi ROLAND
EADS SPACE (FR)Tel: +33 (0) 1 42 24 27 34
Alistair Scott
EADS SPACE (UK)Tel: +44 (0) 1438 77 3698
Mathias PIKELJ
EADS SPACE (GER)Tel: +49 (0) 7545 8 91 23
Hendrik Thielemann
(GER)Tel: +49 (0) 89 607 2 72 44
Jeremy CLOSE
Tel: +44 (0) 1438 77 3872
Francisco LECHÓN
EADS SPACE (E)Tel: +34 (0) 91 586 37 41
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info