Data Relay Satellite

The European Space Agency (ESA) is leading Europe in two major adventures in space, manned space flight and the exploration of the Earth. The manned space flight programme comprises Hermes, the European space plane, and Columbus, comprising both free-flying attached European elements of the International Space Station Freedom. The Earth exploration programme of the Agency will comprise a series of Polar Platforms In addition, European national space agencies plan to fly their own Earth exploration satellites. To support this In-Orbit Infrastructure, ESA has started development of a new space telecommunications network, based on the European Data Relay System, DRS