Baikonur hosts satellite laser comms node launch

The first orbiting component of the European Data Relay System (EDRS) is due to blast off at 22:20 GMT tonight from Baikonur Cosmodrome atop a Russian Proton rocket. Also dubbed the "SpaceDataHighway", EDRS is described as the "the most sophisticated laser communication network ever designed", which when fully operational will …

[Fullbeem]

Popcorn time

I'll get my popcorn ready

[Robert Helpmann??]

Re: Popcorn time

Have an upvote for the Real Genius reference. Happy Friday!

[Mike Shepherd]

"the most sophisticated < xxx> ever designed"

Cue sound "There May be Trouble Ahead...".

[allthecoolshortnamesweretaken]

Re: "the most sophisticated < xxx> ever designed"

There may be trouble ahead

But while there's moonlight

And music and love and romance -

Let's face the music and dance!

[Anonymous Coward]

huh

America-reducing dependence on foreign assets = xenophobic bastards planning for war omg!

EU -reducing dependency on foreign assets = doing the smart thing, showing independent initiative yay!

?

[Ali Um Bongo]

Re: huh

Don't worry. Europe will doubtless give the USA full access to the system. Being in love is all about sharing.

[Martin Budden]

Re: huh

And leaving your back door wide open.

[Gene Cash]

Thanks for the link

Interesting that the video lists "intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance" as the main applications, as this is an inherently far more secure communication than radio.

Thanks for the launch stream link. None of my normal space pages seem to think that would be a useful piece of information.

[Lester Haines]

Re: Thanks for the link

Interestingly, ESA didn't think it was important either in its "watch the launch" heads-up.

[MajorTom]

Best of luck with launch and deployment

I, for one, am worried about the Proton booster given its record of late.

[Martin Budden]

Re: Best of luck with launch and deployment

It worked.