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International Space Station (ISS): faster data transfers
Photo: NASA / dpa
The European "Columbus" laboratory module on the International Space Station (ISS) has been given its own direct connection to a high-speed satellite link to the earth's surface. As the German Aerospace Center (DLR) announced on Monday, the so-called "Columbus Ka-Band Terminal" (ColKa) is now ready for continuous operation after all tests have been completed. Data from scientific experiments can be transmitted to earth in real time via the new connection.
According to DLR, the refrigerator-sized antenna of the ColKa system was attached to the "Columbus" module by astronauts almost a year ago during an outdoor mission.
This was followed by system and software tests.
These have now been completed, so that the research laboratory now has its own connection to a powerful data infrastructure called "SpaceDataHighway".
The "data superhighway in space," as DLR calls it, is based on geostationary communications satellites that are always above certain points on Earth because they rotate at the same speed as it does.
They serve as distribution and relay stations for data that other satellites forward to them.
»Data transfer rates of 50 megabits per second«
According to DLR, the ColKa system sends its data from the "Columbus" research module to the so-called EDRS-A communications satellite, which is 36,000 kilometers above the equator at nine degrees east longitude.
From there, the data goes to a ground station in Harwell, UK, and on to DLR's Columbus control center in Oberpfaffenhofen, where all experiments are controlled.
"We can achieve data transmission rates of 50 megabits per second," reported Daria Margiotta, flight director in the control center.
This would open up new possibilities for those responsible on the ground for tests as well as in the area of flight dynamics, ground software and in the general operation of the space station.
It is said that scientists also have more direct access to the experiments they have designed in space.
The ColKa system is a joint production of the European space agency Esa and the European aerospace group Airbus.
The "SpaceDataHighway" system is also an Esa project.
The relay satellites transmit data to the earth's surface via laser.
According to Esa, this allows significantly higher transmission rates and is also significantly more secure against eavesdropping.
mboe/AFP
