ESA and Satellite Communication Systems
Telecommunications not only was the subject of ESA's first Earth applications satellite program but also has remained a high priority of the organization. Although only a few ESA GEO communications satellites were operational during 1993-1994, the influence of ESA has been far greater due to the transfer of spacecraft to the fledgling EUTELSAT and INMARSAT programs. Throughout its history ESA has focused on communications technology development rather than network operations. One of the agency's three major satellite engineering programs is the Data Relay Satellite (DRS) scheduled for launch near the end of this decade.
Sources and Resources
http://www.fas.org/spp/guide/europe/comm/
Implemented by Christina Lindborg, 1997 Scoville Fellow
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Tuesday, July 1, 1997