European Space Agency (ESA) has been implementing, since 2019, the HydRON (High-thRoughput Optical Network) Project within the ESA ScyLight Strategic Programme Line. HydRON aims to build a network of high-capacity optical inter-satellite links and ground-satellite links that interconnect space assets with each other and with ground networks, and that seamlessly extends the terrestrial optical transport networks into space. Data repatriation from satellite and airborne users, feeder link communications to telecommunication satellite operators, high-capacity connectivity to remote private networks, and dynamic peering to terrestrial network operators are four high-level services that may be provided by HydRON. This paper presents the outcomes of the HydRON Vision Phase-A studies led by Airbus Defense and Space (Germany) and Thales Alenia Space (Italy), completed in 2021. These HydRON Vision Phase-A studies aimed at investigating end-to-end system architectures, and identify key elements of the system architecture such as optical ground-satellite links, high data rate WDMs for optical inter-satellite links, on-board switching and routing in optical and/or electrical domains, seamless integration into terrestrial networks, and control and management protocols. The results of the HydRON Vision from those Phase-A studies described in this paper provided the basis for the definition of the HydRON Demonstration System in the currently running Phase-A/B1 studies, which focus on the in-orbit demonstration of a subset of the key technological elements and the validation of the most relevant operational concepts.
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HydRON (High thRoughput Optical Network) is a project of the European Space Agency (ESA) initiated in 2019. HydRON ambitions to extend high-capacity terrestrial networks into space, seamlessly and by interconnecting all kind of space assets across different orbits and terrestrial networks (i.e., 3-dimensional optical network). The targeted capacity performance is orders of magnitude greater compared to today’s satcom systems (terabit/sec in contrast to gigabit/sec). This paper will present an overview of the HydRON-DS concept, including a summary of the technical baseline and associated programmatics submitted for approval at the ESA Ministerial Council in 2022.
The ambition of the High thRoughput Optical Network (HydRON) project of European Space Agency (ESA) is to seamlessly extend terrestrial high-capacity networks into space. The concept aims to empower satellite networks by developing terrestrial networking capabilities and features, in order to interconnect all types of space assets by an “Internet backbone beyond the cloud(s)”. Concretely, HydRON will take advantage of space assets to complement terrestrial high-capacity networks, ultimately enabling the configuration of a worldwide and world-first 3-dimensional optical network interconnecting terrestrial networks with different (orbital) layers in GEO, MEO, LEO, and HAPS. The 3-dimensional optical network capabilities will revolutionize the SatCom sector and its related commercial business. The HydRON project proposal and initial funding were approved at the occasion of the ESA Ministerial Council in November 2019. To prove crucial aspects of HydRON, a subset of key elements of the overall HydRON System (HydRON-S, encompassing the full width of the future implementation) were selected for implementation in the frame of a demonstration system (HydRON-DS), capable to validate all HydRON aspects end-to-end. HydRON-DS represents the initial stage serving the purpose to gradually demonstrate key technologies required to deploy a first (all) optical transport network at terabit-per-second capacity in space and the seamless extension of terrestrial fibre-based networks into space. The HydRON overall architecture is meant to evolve and enable both architecture upscaling and service expansion.
HydRON ambition is to seamlessly integrate the space optical transport network into the terrestrial high capacity network infrastructure: the “Fibre in the Sky”. In HydRON, it is envisaged “All-Optical payloads” being interconnected by means of optical inter-satellite links in the Tbps regime (Terabit per second) furnishing the “bridges” for a truly “Fibre in the Sky” network. Technically speaking HydRON aims at Tbps “All-Optical Network” solutions, dividing the satellite payload into (i) a network part and (ii) an application / service part, equivalent to the backbone part and the access part of optical fibre networks on ground. The application / service part (i.e., the Customer’s payload) has access to the network part (i.e., the HydRON elements), in a similar way as computers are plugged into the terrestrial network.
HydRON encompasses optical feeder links connecting to a space network of in-orbit technology demonstrator payloads, which are interconnected by means of Tbps laser inter-satellite links. WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) laser communication terminals (on ground and in space), optical switching / routing capabilities and high-speed interface electronics will be implemented on-board the network nodes in space to enable a high throughput network connection to the application / service part (i.e., the Customer’s payload). The space network concept will reduce the dependency on atmospheric conditions of single ground stations as all HydRON nodes can get their particular data via the network they are interfacing with. A combination of new optical technologies, novel photonics equipment and efficient network concepts will be proven in orbit. The system architecture must be adaptable to the changing network conditions.
The current status of the above mentioned investigations will be summarised in the present paper.
We present a mission proposal to provide a space based quantum key distribution service. Using entangled photon pairs distributed to two ground stations with a simultaneous double downlink establishes a secret key directly at the user locations. The satellite and the payload do not generate or process any secret key information and the security design, certification and operation of the key management can be restricted to the user locations on ground. Positioning the satellite in GEO enables covering Europe and intercontinental connections, allows flexible service planning to cope with weather constraints and removes the need for coarse tracking telescopes in space and on ground while allowing long integration times. The large link distance and the combined losses of two down links require large optical terminals in space and on ground to obtain a usable secure key generation rate. We will present results from an ESA internal Phase 0 study concentrating on the payload design and performance.
The Public-Private-Partnership between ESA and Airbus Defense and Space (Germany) has created the European Data Relay System (EDRS), which is operational since 2016.
The joint teams are running the Phase B of the globalisation of the European Data Relay System (EDRS) with an addition to the programme called EDRS Global (former GlobeNet).
EDRS Global is planning to increase the capacity of EDRS by adding a geostationary data relay payload, called EDRSD, over the Asia-Pacific region – in cooperation with Airbus DS partner JSAT (Japan). The heart of the system will be multiple laser terminals, based on TESATs upgraded design, featuring also a dual wavelength capability (1064 nm and 1550 nm) to serve more customers at the same time. The 1550 nm capabilities will be implemented in a cooperation between Airbus and TESAT (Germany), and NEC (Japan).
The evolution of the service will also aim for security sensitive user missions, including RPAS missions. The Laser Communication Technology on-board EDRS-D will be the starting point for the world’s first global laser based network in space, providing Global Secure Quasi-Real- Time-Services at Gigabit per second speed back to Europe by connecting its EDRS GEO nodes (EDRS-A/-C and EDRS-D) over 80,000 km distance by the means of optical communication.
The paper will provide details of the project and information about the latest status.
ESA's Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Directorate (TIA) runs a dedicated programmatic framework to Optical Communication Technologies, called ARTES ScyLight (SeCure and Laser communication Technology, pronounced "skylight").
ScyLight supports the development and deployment of innovative optical technologies for satellite communication as well as assisting industry to develop new market opportunities for optical communication technologies.
The ScyLight programme focuses the efforts of European and Canadian industry on optical communication technologies in the following areas:
•Optical Communication Technology at System Level
•Optical Communication Terminal Technology
•Intra-Satellite Photonics/Optical Payloads
•Quantum Cryptography Technologies in Space and initial services demonstration
The paper will give an overview of the programme status and an outlook on its evolution.
The paper will inform about the status of a new proposed ESA project on optical communications called “High thRoughput Optical Network” (HydRON), which aims to demonstrate European and Canadian capabilities in all fields of optical communications and with the seamless integration into terrestrial network structures, via a dedicated mission.
Optical communication Technologies are considered to be one of the next major revolutions in satellite communication, bringing unprecedentedly high levels of transmission rates, data security and resilience. However technical developments and early implementations cannot demonstrate its full capabilities, as the optical solution is mainly used in nonoptimized (SatCom) systems. To address the system level aspects ESA and its member states have implemented the operational European Data Relay System (EDRS) providing routine Quasi-Real-Time-Data Services to the European Commission Copernicus satellite fleet. Furthermore, a dedicated programme for Optical Communication was created called "ScyLight" which stands for a "SeCure and Laser communication Technology" Framework Programme. To integrate satellite and terrestrial networks ESA is now preparing its next logical step in optical communication systems by creating the elements for a High Throughput Opticial Network called HydRON. In HydRON optical interconnections in the Tbps (Terabit per second) region will be established including "All-Optical payloads” providing the means for a truly "Fibre in Space" network. Technically speaking HydRon is aiming for Tbps "All-Optical Network” solutions, dividing the satellite payload into a network part and an application part - similar to optical fiber networks on ground. The application is hooked to the network. HydRON will prepare Optical Feeder uplinks into a network of in orbit Technology Demonstrators (called HydRON#1, #2, etc.), which will be interconnected by means of Tbps laser intersatellite links. WDM Laser terminals (ground/space) and optical routing capabilities on-board the network nodes in space will be implemented together with optical payloads to enable a high throughput network connection to the applications. The space network concept will reduce the dependency on single ground stations as all HydRON nodes will get their particular data via the network they are interfacing with. A combination of new optical technologies, novel photonics equipment and efficient network concepts will be proven in orbit. HydRON shall not be seen as THE solution for all, but shall give a platform to demonstrate the capabilities of multiple industry players and to prepare for the future: a European/Canadian SHOW CASE on Optical Communications!
Since the successful demonstration of the Semiconductor-laser Inter-satellite Link EXperiment (SILEX) in 2001 between ARTEMIS and SPOT-4 satellites, the European Space Agency (ESA) and several European National Space Agencies have consolidated the effort in developing the so-called “second generation” of optical communications terminals with reduced mass, size and power consumption, and increased data transmission rate, [1].
The European Data Relay System, EDRS [1], will provide quasi real time access to earth observation data created by low earth orbiting spacecrafts using Gbit laser communication links. Currently five EDRS compatible Laser Communication Terminals (LCT) are in orbit, three of them on earth observation spacecrafts (Sentinel 1A, Sentinel 2A, Sentinel 1B) and two geostationary systems on Alphasat and Eutelsat 9B, the host of the first EDRS data relay payload (EDRS-A). The paper will report on the recent progress on the in-orbit commissioning campaigns for the individual units.
D. Tröndle, P. Martin Pimentel, C. Rochow, H. Zech, G. Muehlnikel, F. Heine, R. Meyer, S. Philipp-May, M. Lutzer, E. Benzi, P. Sivac, S. Mezzasoma, H. Hauschildt, M. Krassenburg, I. Shurmer
Laser Communication Links in Orbit have become routine for Alphasat TDP1 GEO data relay and Sentinel-1A LEO satellite. Since November 2014, an extensive campaign has demonstrated stable and bit-error free links over distances of up to 45.000km with 1.1W optical transmit power and data rates of up to 1.8Gbps. Link acquisition is achieved reliably within less than 55s. Links with low grazing altitude investigate the impact of atmosphere to link performance. The optical links between Sentinel-1A and Alphasat are in collaboration of ESA, DLR, and TESAT Spacecom. Alphasat TDP1 is the precursor for European Data Relay Satellite System EDRS [1].
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