February 2017
Protecting our space interests
...developed powerful ground-based and airborne radar and high-energy lasers as part of its ballistic missile defence programme. These ... ‘ADR’ means Active Debris Removal. Less powerful lasers can be used to temporarily blind reconnaissance satellites in...
August 2017
Big science from small spacecraft
... wavelength radars; GPS radio occultation; mass spectrometers; gamma ray and X-ray spectrometers; and optical communication lasers that can be used for occultation. That’s quite a rich suite of science instrumentation that reflects the investment...
January 2018
Maximising the economic opportunities of deep space
...called Analytical Space is focused on demonstrating this capability from LEO. The technology, however, could be used to build a laser-based deep space communications network that could be used for everything from data transmission, to positioning and...
January 2019
Engineering six-hour solar eclipses with formation flying
... highest accuracy metrology is the Fine Lateral and Longitudinal Sensor (FLLS), located on the OSC and based on laser technology. It provides the performances to achieve the high accuracy pointing and positioning requirements. The main functionality...
February 2019
The Space Elevator – an alternative path to space?
...range from large guns (including nuclear) to laser launch, from electromagnetic accelerator ramps to the...a Space Elevator is substantially lower than on a rocket; solar or laser power should suffice. The Space Elevator is a very large structure indeed...
March 2019
The changing economics of space
... and enables a peer-to-peer system to be implemented. ESA’s laser satellite EDRS-C which is due for launch later in 2019. ...Data Relay System (EDRS) is the most sophisticated laser communication network ever designed. Its two geostationary satellites...
