This is the first high-speed laser transmission system, which can in quasi real time send images from satellites to Earth.

The transfer rate is up to 7-times higher that with current systems. This data highway will be used by the Copernicus satellites which monitor the environment and aid at life rescuing operations.

The ERDS is a public-private partnership between the European Space Agency and Airbus – subsidised by the EU with 90 million EUROS.