AWS Ground Station
Satellite ground station by the minute
Rent AWS ground station antennas to communicate with and control satellites and downlink data, sending it straight into an AWS Region for processing without building your own station.
- Cost$$$ High
- Difficulty●●●●●
- Costs money when idle?No
- Managed by AWS
Think of it asLike renting time on a big antenna dish each time your satellite passes overhead.
When to use it
✓ Use it when
Operating satellites that need data downlink and control without investing in ground stations.
✗ Avoid it when
Don't have your own satellite and only need satellite imagery → buy data from a provider.
Common uses
- Download Earth observation imagery
- Satellite command and telemetry
- Process satellite data directly on EC2
What does it cost?
- Pricing model: Billed per minute of antenna use, depending on the frequency band; you can reserve minutes monthly in advance.
