Engineering:HydRON

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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

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 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 (€18.6 million) to work on Element #3.[2][11][17][18]

See also

  • List of European Space Agency programmes and missions
  • EDRS
  • IRIS²

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rainbow, Jason (2025-03-13). "ESA lays foundations for the future of data transmission" (in en-US). SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/esa-lays-foundations-for-the-future-of-data-transmission/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "ESA begins next phase of 'fibre in the sky' optical communications project with Canada" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/ESA_begins_next_phase_of_fibre_in_the_sky_optical_communications_project_with_Canada. 
  3. ↑ Perdigues Armengol, J.; Vasko, C. A.; Acar, G.; Mata Calvo, R.; Arapoglou, P. D.; Altamura, A.; Canuet, L.; Alaluf, D. et al. (2025). Bernard, Frédéric; Karafolas, Nikos; Kubik, Philippe et al.. 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. https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/13699/3075407/HydRON--ESAs-end-to-end-optical-satellite-communication-system/10.1117/12.3075407.full. 
  4. ↑ Vasko, Christopher; Perdigués Armengol, Josep Maria; Acar, Guray; Arapoglou, Pantelis-Daniel; El-Dali, Wael; Mezzasoma, Silvia; Politano, Monica; Sodnik, Zoran et al. (2022-03-04). 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. https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/11993/2606232/HydRON-Internet-backbone-beyond-the-clouds/10.1117/12.2606232.full. 
  5. ↑ Hauschildt, Harald; Elia, Carlo; Moeller, Ludwig; Perdigués Armengol, Josep Maria (2019-03-04). 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. https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/10910/2511391/HydRON-High-throughput-optical-network/10.1117/12.2511391.full. 
  6. ↑ Patton, Tom. "Multi-Orbit Optical Communication Network Demo Planned" (in en). https://www.exterrajsc.com/p/multi-orbit-optical-communication. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "HydRON: Transforming How Data-Collecting Satellites Communicate" (in en). 2025-06-01. https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/53220-hydron-transforming-how-data-collecting-satellites-communicate. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 SpaceRef (2022-02-01). "Mynaric selected by ESA to investigate optical technologies for next generation high-throughput optical inter-satellite links" (in en-US). SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/mynaric-selected-by-esa-to-investigate-optical-technologies-for-next-generation-high-throughput-optical-inter-satellite-links/. 
  9. ↑ Jason Rainbow, Emma Gatti (2026-04-15). "Kepler to lead interoperability tests for ESA’s HydRON optical relay network" (in en-US). SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/kepler-to-lead-interoperability-tests-for-esas-hydron-optical-relay-network/. 
  10. ↑ Rainbow, Jason (2024-10-16). "ESA picks Kepler-led group to develop LEO optical data relay network" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/esa-picks-kepler-led-group-to-develop-leo-optical-data-relay-network/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Boucher, Marc (2026-04-15). "Kepler awarded $30.1 million prime contract for European Space Agency HydRON optical network" (in en-US). https://spaceq.ca/kepler-awarded-30-1-million-prime-contract-for-european-space-agency-hydron-optical-network/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Careless, James (2024-10-16). "ESA Selects Kepler for HydRON Space-Based Terabit Broadband Network" (in en-US). https://spaceq.ca/esa-selects-kepler-for-hydron-space-based-terabit-broadband-network/. 
  13. ↑ "HydRON: Satellites using lasers for faster data sharing" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/HydRON_Satellites_using_lasers_for_faster_data_sharing. 
  14. ↑ "Mynaric selected by ESA" (in en-US). https://astrodrom.com/en/spacenews/mynaric-selected-by-esa-to-investigate-broadband-inter-satellite-links/. 
  15. ↑ "Thales Alenia Space and ESA sign contract for HydRON to demonstrate first multi-orbit optical communication network | Thales Alenia Space" (in en). 2025-02-14. https://www.thalesaleniaspace.com/en/press-releases/thales-alenia-space-and-esa-sign-contract-hydron-demonstrate-first-multi-orbit. 
  16. ↑ Nova, Redazione Agenzia (2025-02-14). "Aerospace: Thales Alenia Space signs contract with Esa for HydRon demonstrator system" (in en). https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/aerospace-thales-alenia-space-signs-contract-with-esa-for-hydron-demonstrator-system/. 
  17. ↑ Whitney, Jamie (2026-03-12). "Mynaric to test laser communications terminals in ESA HydRON optical network demonstrations" (in en). https://www.militaryaerospace.com/communications/news/55363293/mynaric-to-test-laser-communications-terminals-in-esa-hydron-optical-network-demonstrations. 
  18. ↑ "Mynaric Selected for ESA HydRON User Segment Demonstration Activities under Element 3" (in en-US). https://mynaric.com/news/mynaric-selected-for-esa-hydron-user-segment-demonstration-activities-under-element-3/. 

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