EDRS, the European Data Relay System, was developed and implemented under a Public Private Partnership between ESA and Airbus Defence and Space. The system was based on two geostationary 'distributor' satellites that, because of their fixed position in space, were able to receive high-speed communications from low-flying Earth observation satellites via laser and relay them to Earth without any delay. As a result, these satellites were no longer restricted to brief contact windows when they passed over their ground stations. Furthermore users were able to send commands to their satellites via EDRS in near-real time.
The overall system was built and operated by Airbus Defence and Space. It featured one dedicated satellite (EDRS-C) and one piggyback payload (EDRS-A). Both of them were positioned in the geostationary orbit with visibility over central Europe. EDRS-C was based on the new SmallGEO platform built by the German company OHB. The EDRS-A payload was hosted on the EUTELSAT 9B satellite and was launched on January 29, 2016. EDRS-C was launched on August 6, 2019. ESA acted as a major customer for Astrium paying for relay services of data from SENTINEL satellites.
The German Space Operations Center (GSOC) built up the central ground stations in in Weilheim, Redu (Belgium) and Harvell (England) and operated them from the DLR facility in Weilheim. It served as the routine control center for both satellites, the EDRS-A payload and the EDRS-C satellite. Additionally, GSOC performed the LEOP and IOT of EDRS-C.
