22 units launched with 4 years of unblemished commercial service: Happy Birthday IDRS!

It was a watershed moment in space history, ushering in the era of commercial 24/7, real-time, always-on connectivity for LEO assets. Four years of simple “plug and play” COTS functionality. And four years of commercial space operation.

Creative problem solving and collaboration has always lain at the heart of success for Addvalue’s IDRS. Development and testing of the service on the Velox-II 6U experimental satellite began more than 10 years before the commercial launch of IDRS services. Working closely with Inmarsat (now Viasat), Addvalue’s team debugged and resolved challenges, including doppler and mobility-management issues, to see the service launched with the first commercial commissioning and activation of an IDRS terminal, on 12 November 2020 – four years ago today.

IDRS set a new benchmark for real-time, always-on LEO connectivity. Operating over Viasat's ultra-reliable BGAN network, IDRS offers full mobility management of LEO assets, unrivalled cost-effective connectivity with predictable monthly operating expenses, and no limit to the number of “contacts” users can have with their LEO asset.

IDRS in LEO orbit operates in much the same way as a mobile phone, providing each LEO asset with an IP address and functioning as another node on the network. And as IDRS operates on Viasat’s globally coordinated L-band satellites, regulatory compliance is simply a matter of filing paperwork with the relevant authorities.

Designed for power efficiency and space-saving installation, the IDRS i100 transceiver and associated directional and hemispherical switched antenna options have proved to be ideal for both small and large spacecraft platforms, where size, weight and power are always critical design constraints. The IDRS i100 supports real-time communication – essential for time-sensitive data applications, enabling speedy downloads and unparalleled responsiveness for TT&C, onboard system monitoring, connectivity for manned missions, data processing and analysis, and a number of other critical tasks.

As the last four years have proven, the use case applications for IDRS are exceptionally varied – the only limit on their range is imagination. The flexibility offered by the system supports a diverse range of applications, including EO tasking and management, OTV proximity docking management, LEO constellation management (including tip and cue formation flying), commercial space station management and connectivity – all while reducing the need for extensive ground infrastructure and removing the barrier of pre-scheduled communication windows.

IDRS unlocks potential for commercial space stations (pharmaceutical R&D, low gravity manufacturing and, of course, space tourism.) As NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System is retired, IDRS stands ready as an ideally suited commercial alternative.

Able to provide the management, always-on tasking and connectivity to the optical or RF downlink, IDRS is also a perfect partner to hybrid L-band–Optical and L-band–Ka-band ISL solutions. Its use means the optical or RF downlink will only need to be activated when required – saving power and money, as well as avoiding the need for constant assisted pointing.

Beyond the usual earth observation use cases, IDRS is also poised to advance other remote sensing applications, including radio energy detection, PNT and GNSS augmentation applications and precision weather prediction. Additionally, it offers exciting potential for cross orbital manoeuvres, autonomous formation flying satellite operations coordination and space sustainability operations, such as collision avoidance.

IDRS is positioned to be a de facto space-based data communication solution for the LEO satellite industry – central to a huge range of space-based applications, including those yet to be conceived. From natural resource management, agriculture and crop yield management, to disaster assessment and recovery and orbital transfer vehicle management, its use cases are expanding in line with the growth of the commercial space market.

“If the first four years of IDRS have taught us anything” said our CEO, Mr Tan Khai Pang, “it is that the opportunity this landmark product and service offers is unparalleled.” With more than 30 flight units currently in the hands of our diverse set of customers and awaiting launch, we expect the adoption of IDRS to accelerate in the coming years.

To learn more about the applications and advantages of IDRS, read more of our detailed case studies, or get in touch with our team, who will be happy to schedule a presentation.

Happy birthday, IDRS.