HydRON
| Operator | European Space Agency |
|---|---|
| Status | Under development |
| Constellation size | |
| Current usable satellites | 0 |
| Website | https://connectivity.esa.int/archives/partnership-projects/hydron |
HydRON, or High‐thRoughput Optical Network, is a future multi-orbit constellation of communication satellites using laser links, which is being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA).[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The project's goal is to provide real‐time large volume data transfer services between satellites and ground systems at throughput higher than 100 Gbps.[6] [7] [8] The project is structured in three "elements". The first aims to establish a low Earth orbit constellation, the second aims to extend it to other orbits, and the third aims to create a user-facing segment in coordination with the industry.[2] [7] [9] [10] [11] [12] HydRON is part of ESA's Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme.[13]
History
[edit ]On 1 February 2022, ESA awarded a contract to the German company Mynaric to work on the optical communication system for HydRON.[8] [14] On 16 October 2024, ESA awarded a 36ドル million contract to the Canadian company Kepler Communications to lead Element #1 development.[1] [12] On 14 February 2025, ESA awarded a contract (amount undisclosed) to the European company Thales Alenia Space to lead Element #2.[1] [15] [16] In early 2026, ESA awarded further contracts to Mynaric and Kepler Communications (18ドル.6 million) to work on Element #3.[2] [11] [17] [18]
See also
[edit ]References
[edit ]- ^ a b c Rainbow, Jason (2025年03月13日). "ESA lays foundations for the future of data transmission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ a b c "ESA begins next phase of 'fibre in the sky' optical communications project with Canada". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ Perdigues Armengol, J.; Vasko, C. A.; Acar, G.; Mata Calvo, R.; Arapoglou, P. D.; Altamura, A.; Canuet, L.; Alaluf, D.; Thurnes, D.; Balakier, K.; Hauschildt, H. (2025). Bernard, Frédéric; Karafolas, Nikos; Kubik, Philippe; Minoglou, Kyriaki (eds.). "HydRON: ESA's end-to-end optical satellite communication system is moving towards implementation" . Proceedings Volume 13699, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2024. SPIE: 272. doi:10.1117/12.3075407. ISBN 978-1-5106-9347-0.
- ^ Vasko, Christopher; Perdigués Armengol, Josep Maria; Acar, Guray; Arapoglou, Pantelis-Daniel; El-Dali, Wael; Mezzasoma, Silvia; Politano, Monica; Sodnik, Zoran; Elia, Carlo; Hauschildt, Harald (2022年03月04日). Hemmati, Hamid; Robinson, Bryan S. (eds.). "HydRON: Internet backbone beyond the clouds" . Proceedings Volume 11993, Free-Space Laser Communications XXXIV. SPIE: 25. doi:10.1117/12.2606232. ISBN 978-1-5106-4857-9.
- ^ Hauschildt, Harald; Elia, Carlo; Moeller, Ludwig; Perdigués Armengol, Josep Maria (2019年03月04日). Hemmati, Hamid; Boroson, Don M. (eds.). "HydRON: High throughput optical network" . Proceedings of the SPIE. SPIE: 18. doi:10.1117/12.2511391. ISBN 978-1-5106-2462-7.
- ^ Patton, Tom. "Multi-Orbit Optical Communication Network Demo Planned". www.exterrajsc.com. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ a b "HydRON: Transforming How Data-Collecting Satellites Communicate". www.techbriefs.com. 2025年06月01日. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ a b SpaceRef (2022年02月01日). "Mynaric selected by ESA to investigate optical technologies for next generation high-throughput optical inter-satellite links". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ Jason Rainbow, Emma Gatti (2026年04月15日). "Kepler to lead interoperability tests for ESA's HydRON optical relay network". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ Rainbow, Jason (2024年10月16日). "ESA picks Kepler-led group to develop LEO optical data relay network". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ a b Boucher, Marc (2026年04月15日). "Kepler awarded 30ドル.1 million prime contract for European Space Agency HydRON optical network". SpaceQ Media Inc. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ a b Careless, James (2024年10月16日). "ESA Selects Kepler for HydRON Space-Based Terabit Broadband Network". SpaceQ Media Inc. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ "HydRON: Satellites using lasers for faster data sharing". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ "Mynaric selected by ESA". Astrodrom. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ "Thales Alenia Space and ESA sign contract for HydRON to demonstrate first multi-orbit optical communication network | Thales Alenia Space". www.thalesaleniaspace.com. 2025年02月14日. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ Nova, Redazione Agenzia (2025年02月14日). "Aerospace: Thales Alenia Space signs contract with Esa for HydRon demonstrator system". Agenzia Nova. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ Whitney, Jamie (2026年03月12日). "Mynaric to test laser communications terminals in ESA HydRON optical network demonstrations". Military Aerospace. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
- ^ "Mynaric Selected for ESA HydRON User Segment Demonstration Activities under Element 3". Mynaric. Retrieved 2026年04月15日.
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