Programmes & Operations
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programmes & operations 147 r bulletin 102 — may 2000 Cluster-II system ability to support experiments of the Mission Operations Centre (MOC) to through remote commanding by Principal control and monitor the spacecraft. It also All testing and refurbishment activities on Investigators and data distribution via the confirms the basic functionality of the all four spacecraft have been successfully Data Centres. A successful Science Data spacecraft Service Module. completed. The first two spacecraft to be System Readiness Review on 14 March launched (FM6 and FM7) are ready for confirmed system readiness. For this first SVT phase, the emphasis shipment at Dornier’s premises in was on validation of the functions needed Friedrichshafen (D), whilst the second pair Two successful qualification launches of to handle the telemetry and telecommand (FM5 and FM8) are ready to be shipped the new Fregat upper stage for the Soyuz data for the Service Module. The next from IABG in Munich. launch vehicle took place on 9 February phase will also include the execution of and 20 March. The very good accuracy real operational scenarios, such as the The Flight Acceptance Review, which achieved in all orbital parameters Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), to included co-location of the review team at confirmed the ability of the launch vehicle validate the relevant flight procedures. At a Dornier during 20-24 March, culminated and upper stage to launch the Cluster later stage, when the payload has been with the Review Board meeting in Paris on mission successfully. integrated, similar tests will be conducted 28 March. The Review Board expressed to ensure that the MOC will also be able full satisfaction with the status of the four The Baikonur Launch Facilities to control the instruments on board Cluster-II spacecraft and endorsed the Acceptance took place on 15-18 March. Integral correctly. review team’s positive findings. The Board The fuel for the four spacecraft arrived in also shared the Project’s concerns over Baikonur on 19 March after sea transport The status of the four scientific a general problem with the type of from the UK to St. Petersburg and instruments making up the Integral spacecraft propulsion system used, subsequent shipment by train to its final payload was reviewed in April. A revised which is currently affecting several destination. It is currently stored in the completion schedule leading to launch in programmes, both in-orbit and about to hazardous-goods storage facility. April 2002 has now been agreed. be launched. The course of action proposed by the Project, and fully The launch dates of June and July are endorsed by the Board, will lead to a final presently affected by the delay in the decision concerning the suitability of the shipment of the spacecraft to Baikonur. Rosetta system for the Cluster mission. It was The exact impact is currently being decided to delay shipment of the four assessed, but a postponement of the two The Rosetta Structural and Thermal Model spacecraft to the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch dates by at least three weeks can (STM) testing has been completed, which until investigations are completed. be envisaged. is consistent with the planned schedule. The structural tests were completed in The Ground-Segment Readiness Review February and it was demonstrated that (GSRR) was successfully held on 15 the primary structure can withstand the March. The flight simulation programme Integral expected launch loads. In addition, the was started at ESOC and several expected environment for all subsystem simulations were performed in March with The spacecraft, launcher and ground- and payload units was below the Project and Industry participation. The segment activities have continued to follow specifications to which they have been programme will be resumed at the end of the recommendations from the Critical designed. April after a short interruption due to the Design Review held in December 1999. delay in shipment of the spacecraft. The thermal-balance testing was also The first part of the System Validation Test very successful. It demonstrated that the The science data system functional testing (SVT) was successfully completed in spacecraft can withstand the extreme has been completed and has proved the March. The SVT demonstrates the ability thermal conditions that it will encounter during its long voyage, at distances from the Sun of between one and more than five times the distance from the Earth to the Sun. This is one of the most challenging features of the Rosetta mission and this successful demonstration is therefore a major milestone in the programme. The Electrical Qualification Model (EQM) programme has also started in mid-April. Although this was one month behind schedule, contingency planning has ensured that it can still be completed by The Integral System Validation Test (SVT) in progress at ESOC 148 programmes & operations The Rosetta Structural and Thermal Model (STM), under test at ESTEC (NL) Working Group, coordinating the international aspects of all Mars missions, met on 26 an 27 January in London. The Working Group was debriefed on the then available facts relating to the NASA investigations into the loss of the Climate Orbiter and Polar Lander missions. These results are of high interest for ESA, as every effort will be made to take NASA's 'lesson learnt' into account for Mars Express. The new Fregat upper stage of the Soyuz launcher has been successfully test-flown twice. Its performance was outstanding and it should therefore be able to inject Mars Express onto a very precise cruise trajectory to the planet. The Prime Contractor Matra Marconi Space (F) has organised a meeting of all of their subcontractors. During this industrial day, the companies also exchanged views on ESA's new approach to the procurement of the spacecraft. The new management mid-March 2001, before the flight model Work is progressing satisfactorily in all approach seems well appreciated, as it starts its integration. During this time, full areas of the ground-segment allows, inter alia, quicker decision making functional testing of all spacecraft and development. In particular, the foundation and faster financial payments. payload units will take place, ending with stone has been laid for the new ESA 35 m the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) Deep Space Antenna at New Norcia in Preparation of the ground segment at test. The subsystem units have started to Western Australia, and construction is ESOC is in full swing and the team is be delivered and integrated, as well as the planned to be completed by the end of being expanded as planned to cope with first version of the onboard software, 2001. the increasing workload. which will be incrementally updated according to the functional requirements of the tests to be performed. Mars Express EOEP The Hardware Design Review (EMR) held in November 1999 had identified various The implementation of the Mars Express The Earth Observation Envelope areas of the system design that were still mission has continued to progress at a Programme (EOEP) was formally initiated insufficiently defined. These areas have rapid pace. The final meeting of the on 1 January although, as previously been actively addressed with the prime Preliminary System Design Review Board reported, considerable effort had already contractor and the major subcontractors, took place on 11 January. The Board, co- been devoted to ensuring a smooth start- resulting in positive closure of most of the chaired by ESA Directors R.M. Bonnet up. The programme covers the two types resulting actions. and J-J. Dordain, heard presentations on of Earth Explorer mission, ‘Core’ and all aspects of the missions, including a ‘Opportunity’. The first mission of each Development of the scientific payload is detailed technical assessment of the type has already been initiated into also proceeding according to plan, with spacecraft design compiled by an Phase-B, namely GOCE and CRYOSAT, delivery of all the EQM units expected independent Science and Engineering respectively. In addition, a second mission before the end of June, in time for Review Team. The Board concluded that of each type is currently under integration on the spacecraft EQM. the current spacecraft design allows the preparation, namely ADM/AEOLUS, for Pre-shipment reviews have been held at formal starting of Phase-C/D, i.e. the which instrument pre-development has all of the participating institutes. For the building of the spacecraft. The Board also started, and SMOS, which is entering Rosetta lander, a major effort has been issued eight recommendations that the Phase-A. made to consolidate the system Project has accepted and already design, resulting in solutions being found incorporated into the spacecraft design. As well as these new satellite missions, for most critical areas. The International Mars Exploration the programme is funding the continuity of 149 r bulletin 102 — may 2000 the ERS-2 mission and a new Market thermal environmental testing and is means that the predicted launch date for Development activity, aimed at the currently in the indoor Compact Test MSG-1 could remain October 2000, development of new information products Range for antenna verification and although Eumetsat, the satellite system derived from existing satellite data. It is electromagnetic compatibility testing, soon operator, is presently contemplating a also planned to utilise EOEP resources in to be followed by optical vacuum tests to launch delay in consultation with its the future for the preparation of Earth test the optical performance of the cold delegate bodies. Watch programmes. channels of the SEVIRI instrument. The recent successful Ariane-505 launch The MSG-2 flight-model satellite’s (in March) will provide important data for integration has started and most of the solving the Ariane-5-related shock EOPP equipment for the MSG-3 flight model, problem and will hence help in the final and spares, have been delivered to the selection of the launcher for MSG-1, i.e.