Progressing towards an operational optical data relay service

The European Data Relay System, EDRS [1], will provide quasi real time access to earth observation data created by low earth orbiting spacecrafts using Gbit laser communication links. Currently five EDRS compatible Laser Communication Terminals (LCT) are in orbit, three of them on earth observation spacecrafts (Sentinel 1A, Sentinel 2A, Sentinel 1B) and two geostationary systems on Alphasat and Eutelsat 9B, the host of the first EDRS data relay payload (EDRS-A). The paper will report on the recent progress on the in-orbit commissioning campaigns for the individual units.