ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications

Become the satellite optical comms expert you know you can be⚡🧠 This intensive online course will broadly introduce you to satellite optical comms, exploring the basics and diving into the future. 📆17-20 Nov 2026 ⏰Apply by 13 November 2026 📩 lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/sate...

How will we communicate and navigate on the Moon?🤔 🌒 ESA’s Moonlight will provide communication and navigation services to support Europe’s lunar exploration ambitions. But what does it take to make comms and nav work around the 🌒? Discover the challenges behind building a lunar network 👇️

One beam full of possibilities: the new @esa.int patch for Optical and Quantum Communications - Scylight⚡⚛️ But, what does it mean? 👉 www.esa.int/Applications...

What do wolves have to do with secure communications?🐺 🤔 Find out here 👇️ www.esa.int/Applications...

#OTD 26 September 2018, 100th launch of an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. Ariane 5 VA243 delivered the Horizons-3e and Azerspace-2/Intelsat-38 telecom satellites into orbit. www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup... @cnes.fr @transport.esa.int @esa.int @esaconnectivity.esa.int

Just a week ago we signed 18 contracts with around 80 European companies to study potential uses of IRIS²’s Low‑LEO layer, with the aim to strengthen the EU’s secure connectivity constellation 🌐💪 www.esa.int/Applications...

Sometimes, all your satellite needs is a little push to extend its operational life🫸 ESA has signed a contract with ClearSpace to develop in-orbit servicing for geostationary satellites. The spacecraft could help keep satellites in the right orbit and orientation when their propellant runs low🧭🛰️

ECS-4, alongside the other ECS satellites, enabled coverage of the whole European continent for cable television📺, telephone communications☎️ and specialised services... ... for around 15 (!) years.

#OTD 13 September 1977, launch of ESA's OTS-1 satellite on a US Thor Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral. This was the first launch in the Orbital Test Satellite series, ESA’s first telecommunications satellite programme. But events did not unfold smoothly... @esa.int @esaconnectivity.esa.int

#OTD 10 September 1982, launch of Ariane 1 L5 with MARECS B and Sirio-2 satellites on board. Unfortunately, the flight failed 7 minutes after liftoff because of a failure of the third stage. The vehicle and payload were lost. #Space #History #SpaceHistory @transport.esa.int @esaconnectivity.esa.int

Will we be passengers or pilots? Customers or service providers? Tenants or architects? At the International Space Summit, I argued that Europe must take steps now to shape its own future in space. Read my full speech 🧑‍🚀🚀 esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corpora... #ParisSpaceSummit

Last night we brought together astronauts, ministers, industry leaders and space enthusiasts to celebrate the imagination, innovation and cooperation that define Europe's journey in space. From Earth orbit to deep space, we were reminded that today's ambitions become tomorrow's achievements.

🇬🇧The UK is ramping up satcom investment via @esa.int , targeting quantum-secure comms, high-bandwidth laser links and future 5G/6G integration⬆️ Projects include satellite-connected crop sensors for farmers and broadband for passengers on Scotland’s West Highland Line🚜🚄 @ukspaceagency.bsky.social

Do sat comms still work during today’s solar eclipse?🌒🛰️ Yes! Satellites 'watch' eclipses often, not just from the Moon, but also from Earth. They may switch to batteries and be briefly affected, but only for minutes⌛ So, even during today’s eclipse, sat comms keep working #Eclipse2026

Connectivity is at the heart of security 🌐 The collaborative efforts of IRIS² will define how Europe remains connected and strong in the future🌍💪

#OTD 7 years ago, EDRS-C launched aboard an Ariane 5🚀 Dubbed SpaceDataHighway, the European Data Relay System, used laser tech to relay Earth observation images back to the ground, beaming the data back almost immediately and thereby accelerating emergency response down here🚑️ 🌍️ @transport.esa.int

🎥Movie streaming takes less than a second today thanks to decades of innovation in satellite broadcasting 📺 #OTD in 1984, the European Communications Satellite 2 launched aboard Ariane 3 flight V10, expanding sat comms and international TV across Europe🛰️🌍 @esa.int @eurospacehistory.bsky.social

Are you ready to shape our programmes' strategy and communicate to various stakeholders?🤔 We have a job opening for a Programme and Strategy Coordinator within the Directorate of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity, based in ESTEC (Netherlands). Details 👉️ jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwij...