Inmarsat-4A F4

<h2 id="european-data-relay-system-test">European Data Relay System test</h2>
<p>The satellite was used as part of an in-orbit verification of the ESA <a href="/facts/European_Data_Relay_System/qaQ8hvvH">European Data Relay System</a>. In 2014, data from the <a href="/facts/Sentinel-1A/NFaQI7bS">Sentinel-1A</a> satellite in LEO was transmitted via an optical link to the Alphasat in GEO and then relayed to a ground station using a <a href="/facts/Ka_band/YqDrokxy">Ka band</a> downlink. The new system can offer speeds up to 7.2 Gbit/s in the future.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
</p>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul>
<li>Spaceflight portal</li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.edrs-spacedatahighway.com">EDRS SpaceDataHighway</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Krebs, Gunter. "Alphasat (Inmarsat-4A F4)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 29 October 2013. <a href="http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/alphasat.htm" target="_blank">http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/alphasat.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Krebs, Gunter. "Alphasat (Inmarsat-4A F4)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 29 October 2013. <a href="http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/alphasat.htm" target="_blank">http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/alphasat.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Bergin, Chris (25 July 2013). "Ariane 5 ECA successfully deploys Alphasat and Insat-3D". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 29 October 2013. <a href="http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/07/Ariane-5-launch-alphasat-insat-3d/" target="_blank">http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/07/Ariane-5-launch-alphasat-insat-3d/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 29 October 2013. <a href="http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt" target="_blank">http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Clark, Stephen (25 July 2013). "Mission Status Center". Ariane Launch Report. Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 29 October 2013. <a href="http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ariane/va214/status.html" target="_blank">http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ariane/va214/status.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>"ALPHASAT (INMARSAT 4A-F4) Satellite details 2013-038A NORAD 39215". N2YO. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013. <a href="http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=39215" target="_blank">http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=39215</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>"Laser link offers high-speed delivery". ESA. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014. <a href="http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Laser_link_offers_high-speed_delivery" target="_blank">http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Laser_link_offers_high-speed_delivery</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Inmarsat-4A F4 open-in-new

Inmarsat-4A F4