ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications
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esaconnectivity.esa.int
ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications
@esaconnectivity.esa.int
Advancing space-based connectivity – bringing broadband to rural areas, supporting crisis response, enhancing cybersecurity, and connecting everyone, everywhere, at all times. Part of the European Space Agency @esa.int family.
Are optical satellite communications secure?🔒

Lasers are much harder to intercept than radio signals because the beam is way more narrow.

How fast can laser links be?⏩

They may be up to gigabits per second, like downloading everything in your Netflix watchlist in a second.

12:30 CET image reveal
November 24, 2025 at 7:59 AM
🚗Gas stations for satellites? ASTRAL is making it happen.

Orbit Fab has secured funding from @esa.int and @ukspaceagency.bsky.social to lead the ASTRAL programme.

It will be Europe’s first sustainable in-orbit refuelling mission, boosting resilience and extending the life of satellites in space.🍃⛽
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Why use lasers and not radio signals for satellites?📻

Lasers carry way more data. It's like radio is a 1-lane road and lasers a 10-lane highway.

How can satellites aim at each other with lasers?🔦

Satellites use ultra-precise fine-pointing systems that can adjust by tiny fractions of a degree.
November 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
What is light?💡

Light is an electromagnetic wave which can be perceived by the human eye.

What makes a laser different than light?⚡

A laser beam is extremely 'organized': all the light waves move in the same direction and shape.

Big image reveal Monday 24 Nov 😉
November 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
It's shiny, it's multicolored... what is it? Random guesses only.

This is a zoomed-in part of an image-reveal 🤭

Best guess will be featured this Thursday😉

Full image reveal on Monday 24 November
November 18, 2025 at 5:25 PM
24 years ago at ESA Ministerial Council 2001👇

A visionary plan for Europe’s satcomms took shape, including approval of the Alphasat mission for fast connectivity and mobile services.

As #CM25 approaches, our ambition is unchanged: meeting Europe’s connectivity needs and strengthening its autonomy🌐
November 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Did you know that Greenland:

- is the largest island that's not a continent 🌍
- is 80% covered by ice 🧊
- will be home to the northernmost optical ground-to-satellite laser communication system⚡

Thanks to Astrolight - in partnership with ESA.

connectivity.esa.int/news/esafund...
November 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
🧠Big innovations in space start with an idea... and a catalyst who believes in it.

@esa.int’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme helps ideas turn into orbit-ready reality.🛰️

Funding, expertise, and legitimacy all in one place.

indd.adobe.com/view/8d47d0b...
November 11, 2025 at 6:47 PM
What lasted 18 years but was only meant for 7?

Marecs B2, launched #OTD in 1984 on an Ariane 3! 🛰️

One of Europe’s first telecom satellites, keeping ships connected with alerts, forecasts and news.🚢

A true overachiever in space history🌍

@eurospacehistory.bsky.social #ESAarchives
November 10, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Meet the Communication Space Segment Manager!🌔🛰️

Nicola leads the ESA and Industry team for the Moonlight Communication Space Segment to ensure future Lunar Users are able to meet their mission objectives and communicate effectively.

Read what she has to say👇

Moonlight 👉 bit.ly/41hDmco
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November 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
🤔Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a part of ESA's Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications?

ESA Student Internships are now open and there are a few internships in our field! 🤩

jobs.esa.int/search/?crea...

#ESA #internship #satellites
November 4, 2025 at 7:54 AM
The ESA Council at Ministerial Level is a time for critical decisions.

In less than a month, ESA’s Member, Associate and Cooperating States will meet to strengthen 🇪🇺's space sector and ensure it continues to serve 🇪🇺 citizens and resilience. #CM25

#tbt to the last Ministerial Council in 2022.
October 30, 2025 at 7:04 PM
#Europe 's resilience is being tested. It's time to act now.

Our programme IRIS² aims to be the backbone for secure governmental communications for the broader @esa.int programme European Resilience from Space.

To ensure everyone is securely connected, wherever, whenever it's most needed.🌐
October 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM
SpainSat NG II has made it into space after it's launch early this morning 🥳

In around five months, it will arrive to geostationary orbit 🛰️

Congratulations to Hisdesat on their successful deployment of the second satellite in the SpainSat NG programme!

www.linkedin.com/posts/esa-co...
October 24, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Faster speeds and wider coverage?

NeXat's award-winning virtual platform makes it possible by helping satellite operators manage their satellites more efficiently 🟰 quicker and smoother connection between satellites and grounds stations.

Learn more 👉 connectivity.esa.int/news/esa-cel...
October 22, 2025 at 8:00 AM
📶Personalised, fast in-flight Wi-Fi is taking off, in a big way…

Thanks to an ESA-supported demonstration of a new type of antenna on top of planes, Viasat has developed an innovative in-flight connectivity solution, Viasat Amara.

Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Applications...
October 21, 2025 at 1:13 PM
🎬Imagine downloading your Netflix film 200 times faster!!

We are one step closer to it, thanks to a Memorandum of Intent signed by SNS JU and ESA to accelerate innovation of how to connect ground and space 6G networks.

smart-networks.europa.eu/sns-ju-and-e...

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October 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Connectivity at sea 🌊: just one more thing communication satellites make possible.

Watch how Kairos We Explore's catamaran stayed connected this summer on it's way to the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice... conducting science research at the same time.

www.esa.int/Applications...
October 16, 2025 at 7:38 AM
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October 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Who are the faces in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications at ESA?🤔

Meet David Phillips, Head of the Systems, Strategic Programme Lines and Technology Department.

Find out more about his priorities and challenges as new Head of Department 👇

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October 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
📈Boosting Europe in the geostationary market!

The Neosat Partnership Project helps European competitiveness to grow by supporting the development and creation of innovative satellite platforms.🛰️

www.esa.int/Applications...
October 13, 2025 at 11:19 AM
We start the week with more open positions in the space sector 🌌

🛰️We're hiring for a 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 for our LEO Satellites Programme Office, within the Satellite Programmes Department! The position is located at ESA in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
October 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Another job position related to secure communications!

🛰️We're hiring for a 𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 for the Security And cryptoGrAphic mission (SAGA) project within our Satellite Programmes Department! The position is located at ESA in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
October 9, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Would you like to work for the future of secure communications from space?

🛰️We're hiring for a 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐐𝐊𝐃 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 for the Security And cryptoGrAphic mission (SAGA) project within our Satellite Programmes Department! The position is located at ESA in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
October 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Meet the NAV Ground Mission Segment Engineer!🌔🛰️

Ramin is helping shape lunar exploration by working on ESA's Moonlight programme, supporting development of the Navigation Centre for future Moon communications & navigation.

Read what he has to say👇

Learn about the mission👉 bit.ly/41hDmco

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October 6, 2025 at 5:03 AM