DOCSLIB.ORG

→ Space for Europe European Space Agency

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
→ Space for Europe European Space Agency number 149 | February 2012 bulletin → space for europe European Space Agency The European Space Agency was formed out of, and took over the rights and The ESA headquarters are in Paris. obligations of, the two earlier European space organisations – the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) and the European Launcher Development The major establishments of ESA are: Organisation (ELDO). The Member States are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands. Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Canada is a Cooperating State. ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany. In the words of its Convention: the purpose of the Agency shall be to provide for ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. and to promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among European States in space research and technology and their space applications, with a view ESAC, Madrid, Spain. to their being used for scientific purposes and for operational space applications systems: Chairman of the Council: D. Williams → by elaborating and implementing a long-term European space policy, by Director General: J.-J. Dordain recommending space objectives to the Member States, and by concerting the policies of the Member States with respect to other national and international organisations and institutions; → by elaborating and implementing activities and programmes in the space field; → by coordinating the European space programme and national programmes, and by integrating the latter progressively and as completely as possible into the European space programme, in particular as regards the development of applications satellites; → by elaborating and implementing the industrial policy appropriate to its programme and by recommending a coherent industrial policy to the Member States. The Agency is directed by a Council composed of representatives of the Member States. The Director General is the chief executive of the Agency and its legal representative. ← On cover: Vega, ESA’s new small launch vehicle, lifts off on its maiden flight on 13 February from Europe’s Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana (ESA/CNES/Arianespace/ Optique Video CSG) → contents 12 number 149 | February 2012 02 22 The ESA Bulletin is an ESA Communications production. Published by: ESA Communication Department ESTEC, PO Box 299 2200 AG Noordwijk The Netherlands Tel: +31 71 565 3408 Email: [email protected] Editor 38 51 58 Carl Walker Designer EUROPEAN HAT-TRICK Ornella Catalano The flight of ATV Edoardo Amaldi Massimo Cislaghi and Nadjejda Vicente → 02 Organisation www.esa.int/credits GLOBAL MONITORING FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY GMES Space Component getting ready for operations The ESA Bulletin is published by the Josef Aschbacher et al → 12 European Space Agency. Individual articles may be reprinted provided HYLAS-1 the credit line reads ‘Reprinted from Satellite broadband for Europe ESA Bulletin’, plus date of issue. Andrea Cotellessa et al → 22 Reprinted signed articles must bear the authors’ names. REACHING FOR THE SKIES Flying student experiments to the edge of space ESA and the ESA logo are trademarks Helen Page and Roger Walker → 32 of the European Space Agency. Images copyright ESA unless stated otherwise. Permission to reproduce CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH SPACE or distribute material identified as GENSO pre-operational activities and preparation for GEOID/HumSAT operations copyright of a third party must be Antonio Castro et al → 38 obtained from the copyright owner concerned. HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE The HumSAT system and the ESA GEOID initiative Antonio Castro et al → 44 2011 IN PICTURES → 51 Copyright © 2012 European Space Agency NEWS IN BRIEF → 58 ISSN 0376-4265 | e-ISSN 1608-4713 PROGRAMMES IN PROGRESS → 64 PUBLICATIONS → 92 human spaceflight & operations human spaceflight ↑ ATV Johannes Kepler seen leaving the ISS in 2011 2 www.esa.int atv-3 → → EUROPEAN HAT-TRICK The flight of ATV Edoardo Amaldi Massimo Cislaghi and Nadjejda Vicente Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations, ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands Even with the completion of ESA’s second Following in the footsteps of its predecessor Johannes Kepler, Automated Transfer Vehicle mission still ATV Edoardo Amaldi will serve as a cargo carrier, storage facility fresh in our minds, the latest in the series of and ‘tug’ vehicle for the ISS. On top of its Ariane 5 launcher, European space freighters is ready to go. ATV Edoardo Amaldi is set to start its voyage to the ISS and it is loaded with 6.6 tonnes of cargo, more dry cargo in its hold than The third Automated Transfer Vehicle, ATV Edoardo on previous missions. Amaldi, will be launched next month and soon after attached to the International Space Station (ISS) for “It might seem that this is a carbon copy of the ATV-2 flown nearly half a year. This February, only a few weeks before just a few months ago, but ATV-3 is bringing much more to launch, all systems are ‘go’. All kinds of contingencies the space transportation scene,” says ESA’s ATV-3 Mission have been tackled during the final simulations, and Manager Massimo Cislaghi. “The much shorter turnaround the last checks are taking place. Excitement in the ATV time and a greater late cargo loading capability make the team is growing. ATV-3 mission a great hat-trick for Europe.” European Space Agency | Bulletin 149 | February 2012 3 Time pressure The main challenge for ATV Edoardo Amaldi is about to be accomplished: it is the first of the ATV series to be processed and launched within the target rate of one per year. The production and integration chain worked at full capacity to be on time. human spaceflight & operations human spaceflight “Since ATV Johannes Kepler was launched to the Station one year ago, and even months before that, we have been working under high time pressure,” explains Massimo Cislaghi. European teams and industry got to the starting line on time even if many of the post-flight technical recommendations were available only at a very late stage of this prelaunch campaign. The rush is for a good reason. The retirement of the Space Shuttle in July 2011, the end of an era for the US space programme, has led to a new scenario. From that moment on, the supplies for the ISS are uploaded on unmanned, expendable cargo vehicles provided by the Station’s international partners. ↑ Comparison of size of ESA's ATV and the Russian “Before the new US commercial resupply service vehicles Progress supply vehicles become operational, ensuring the annual launch rate is vital for the Space Station logistics, especially at a time when there is no Shuttle replacement ready in the near future,” notes the ATV-3 Mission Manager. Europe’s ATV has the largest upload capability of all ISS visiting vehicles, and it is the only one, besides the Russian Progress spacecraft, that can provide refuelling, attitude control and reboost functions. With ATV, Europe contributes in kind towards its share of the operational costs of the ISS. The most challenging European spacecraft to date is about to start its third voyage to the ISS, ready not only to supply the astronauts with food and more research equipment, but also to help in adjusting the orbit of the ISS. Maintaining this orbit will be vital, especially during the forthcoming period of high solar activity. The atmospheric density in the ISS altitude range will increase, creating a larger drag that needs to be actively compensated. What’s inside? Permanently inhabited since 2000, the ISS relies on logistics vehicles such as ATV to upload cargo as well as propellant to maintain its orbit. However, the various needs of the ISS change with every mission. “For ATV-2 we had quite an amount of propulsive support propellant, whereas for ATV-3 we have much more dry cargo: almost 800 kg more this time,” explains Kirsten MacDonell, ESA ATV Cargo Integration Engineer. The volume available has also increased, from ↑ The ATV Edoardo Arnaldi mission logo six cargo racks on the first ATVs to eight racks onEdoardo Amaldi. Every cubic centimetre of the cargo carrier is used to full capacity. 4 www.esa.int atv-3 → ← Loading dry cargo in ATV Edoardo Amaldi in 2011 (ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Optique video du CSG) Most of the cargo has been in place since November, but the The most important item in the cargo planned for ATV Edoardo very last packages will be loaded only three weeks before Amaldi is the spare Fluids Control Pump Assembly (FCPA), a launch. With ATV already in the vertical position on top of critical piece of the system that recycles urine into drinkable its Ariane 5 launcher, ESA will use a special access device to water for the ISS. “It is perhaps the most valuable cargo we load last-minute cargo items through the hatch that will have on ATV-3 because it could affect the life support systems. eventually connect the spacecraft to the ISS in space. If the only FCPA available right now in orbit breaks down, the astronauts will still have enough water for some time, but the Late loading is a delicate operation, ‘something very Station wouldn’t work at full efficiency,” notes Kirsten. unique’ according to Kirsten. Compared to ATV Johannes Kepler, the amount of late cargo has been doubled. Sixty Like assembling a giant puzzle, the interior of ATV has bags holding about 500 kg will be stored, and these will been carefully laid out over the last months, taking into include the precious ‘crew care packages’, traditionally account the centre of mass in order to avoid disturbances prepared by the astronauts’ families with personal gifts. to the sophisticated onboard guidance and control systems. “This expanded late access is definitely a first for ATV-3, The cargo team have calculated where to store each bag showing great flexibility of ESA in adapting the cargo to optimally and use barcode labelling to make it easier to keep the ISS needs,” says Kirsten.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CZ-Space Day Intro
    16.7.2010 ESA TECHNOLOGY → PROGRAMMES AND STRATEGY Czech Space Technology Day - GSTP July 2010 CONTENTS • The European Space Agency -ESA • Space Technology • ESA’s Technology Programmes • Doing business with ESA • ESA’s Long Term Plan 2 1 16.7.2010 → THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY PURPOSE OF ESA “To provide for and promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among European states in space research and technology and their space applications. ” - Article 2 of ESA Convention 4 2 16.7.2010 ESA FACTS AND FIGURES • Over 30 years of experience • 18 Member States • Five establishments, about 2000 staff • 3.7 billion Euro budget (2010) • Over 60 satellites designed, tested and operated in flight • 17 scientific satellites in operation • Five types of launcher developed • Over 190 launches 5 18 MEMBER STATES Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Canada takes part in some programmes under a Cooperation Agreement. Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, and Estonia are European Cooperating States. Cyprus and Latvia have signed Cooperation Agreements with ESA. 6 3 16.7.2010 ACTIVITIES ESA is one of the few space agencies in the world to combine responsibility in nearly all areas of space activity. • Space science • Navigation • Human spaceflight • Telecommunications • Exploration • Technology • Earth observation • Operations • Launchers 7 ESA PROGRAMMES All Member States participate (on In addition,
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey and Assessment of the Capabilities of Cubesats for Earth Observation
    Acta Astronautica 74 (2012) 50–68 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Acta Astronautica journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/actaastro Review A survey and assessment of the capabilities of Cubesats for Earth observation Daniel Selva a,n, David Krejci b a Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA b Vienna University of Technology, Vienna 1040, Austria article info abstract Article history: In less than a decade, Cubesats have evolved from purely educational tools to a standard Received 2 December 2011 platform for technology demonstration and scientific instrumentation. The use of COTS Accepted 9 December 2011 (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) components and the ongoing miniaturization of several technologies have already led to scattered instances of missions with promising Keywords: scientific value. Furthermore, advantages in terms of development cost and develop- Cubesats ment time with respect to larger satellites, as well as the possibility of launching several Earth observation satellites dozens of Cubesats with a single rocket launch, have brought forth the potential for University satellites radically new mission architectures consisting of very large constellations or clusters of Systems engineering Cubesats. These architectures promise to combine the temporal resolution of GEO Remote sensing missions with the spatial resolution of LEO missions, thus breaking a traditional trade- Nanosatellites Picosatellites off in Earth observation mission design. This paper assesses the current capabilities of Cubesats with respect to potential employment in Earth observation missions. A thorough review of Cubesat bus technology capabilities is performed, identifying potential limitations and their implications on 17 different Earth observation payload technologies. These results are matched to an exhaustive review of scientific require- ments in the field of Earth observation, assessing the possibilities of Cubesats to cope with the requirements set for each one of 21 measurement categories.
    [Show full text]
  • ACT-RPR-SPS-1110 Sps Europe Paper
    62nd International Astronautical Congress, Cape Town, SA. Copyright ©2011 by the European Space Agency (ESA). Published by the IAF, with permission and released to the IAF to publish in all forms. IAC-11-C3.1.3 PROSPECTS FOR SPACE SOLAR POWER IN EUROPE Leopold Summerer European Space Agency, Advanced Concepts Team, The Netherlands, [email protected] Lionel Jacques European Space Agency, Advanced Concepts Team, The Netherlands, [email protected] In 2002, a phased, multi-year approach to space solar power has been published. Following this plan, several activities have matured the concept and technology further in the following years. Despite substantial advances in key technologies, space solar power remains still at the weak intersections between the space sector and the energy sector. In the 10 years since the development of the European SPS Programme Plan, both, the space and the energy sectors have undergone substantial changes and many key enabling technologies for space solar power have advanced significantly. The present paper attempts to take account of these changes in view to assess how they influence the prospect for space solar power work for Europe. Fresh Look Study as well as the work on a European I INTRODUCTION sail tower concept by Klimke and Seboldt [16], [17]. Based on these results, which re-confirmed the The concept of generating solar power in space and principal technical viability of space solar power transmitting it to Earth to contribute to terrestrial energy concepts, the focus of the first phase of the European systems has received period attention since P. Glaser SPS programme plan has been to enlarge the evaluation published the first engineering approach to it in 1968 scope of space solar power by including expertise from [1].
    [Show full text]
  • A Monte Carlo Analysis for Collision Risk Assessment on VEGA Launcher
    ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES, Vol. 51, No. 1 – 2016 DOI: 10.1515/arsa-2016-0004 A MONTE CARLO ANALYSIS FOR COLLISION RISK ASSESSMENT A Monte Carlo analysis for collision risk assessment on VEGA ON VEGAlauncher LAUNCHER payloads PAYLOADS and LARES AND LARES satellite SATELLITE G. Sindoni Sapienza Universit`a di Roma, Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale, Rome, Italy e-mail: [email protected] I. Ciufolini Universit`a del Salento, Dip. Ingegneria dell’Innovazione, Lecce, and Centro Fermi, Rome, Italy e-mail: [email protected] F. Battie ELV s.p.a. e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT. This work has been developed in the framework of the LARES mission of the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The LARES satellite has been built to test, with high accuracy, the frame–dragging effect predicted by the theory of General Relativity, specifically the Lense–Thirring drag of its node. LARES was the main payload in the qualification flight of the European Space Agency launcher VEGA. A concern arose about the possibility of an impact between the eight secondary payloads among themselves, with LARES and with the last stage of the launcher (AVUM). An impact would have caused failure on the payloads and the production of debris in violation of the space debris mitigation measures established internationally. As an additional contribution, this study allowed the effect of the payload release on the final manoeuvers of the AVUM to be understood. Keywords: LARES, VEGA, launchers, space debris, collisions. 1. INTRODUCTION On February 13, 2012, the European Space Agency’s VEGA qualification flight inserted into orbit the LARES (LAser RElativity Satellite) satellite (Ciufolini et al.
    [Show full text]
  • → Space for Europe European Space Agency
    number 153 | February 2013 bulletin → space for europe European Space Agency The European Space Agency was formed out of, and took over the rights and The ESA headquarters are in Paris. obligations of, the two earlier European space organisations – the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) and the European Launcher Development The major establishments of ESA are: Organisation (ELDO). The Member States are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands. Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Canada is a Cooperating State. ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany. In the words of its Convention: the purpose of the Agency shall be to provide for ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. and to promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among European States in space research and technology and their space applications, with a view ESAC, Madrid, Spain. to their being used for scientific purposes and for operational space applications systems: Chairman of the Council: D. Williams (to Dec 2012) → by elaborating and implementing a long-term European space policy, by recommending space objectives to the Member States, and by concerting the Director General: J.-J. Dordain policies of the Member States with respect to other national and international organisations and institutions; → by elaborating and implementing activities and programmes in the space field; → by coordinating the European space programme and national programmes, and by integrating the latter progressively and as completely as possible into the European space programme, in particular as regards the development of applications satellites; → by elaborating and implementing the industrial policy appropriate to its programme and by recommending a coherent industrial policy to the Member States.
    [Show full text]
  • Metop Second Generation Payload
    MetOp Second Generation Payload Marc Loiselet, Ville Kangas, Ilias Manolis, Franco Fois, Salvatore d’Addio European Space Agency, ESA/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] MetOp-Second Generation Satellite Instruments Instrument Provider The ESA MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG) Programme was approved at the ESA Council Meeting at Ministerial level in Naples in Sat-A METimage DLR via EUMETSAT November 2012. IASI-NG CNES via EUMETSAT MetOp-SG is a follow-on to the current, first generation series of MetOp satellites, which is now established as a cornerstone of the global MWS ESA – MetOp-SG network of meteorological satellites. RO ESA – MetOp-SG The MetOp-SG programme is being implemented in collaboration with EUMETSAT. 3MI ESA – MetOp-SG ESA will develop the prototype MetOp-SG satellites (including associated instruments) and procure, on behalf of EUMETSAT, the recurrent Sentinel-5 ESA – GMES satellites (and associated instruments). The overall MetOp-SG space segment architecture consists of two series of satellites (Sat-A, Sat-B), each carrying different suites of instruments and operating in LEO polar orbit. The planned launches of the first of each series of satellites Sat-B SCA ESA – MetOp-SG are at the beginning of 2021 and at end 2022, respectively. MWI ESA – MetOp-SG RO ESA – MetOp-SG More information can be found in the “MetOp Second Generation – Overview” presentation from Graeme Mason, Hubert Barré, Maurizio ICI ESA – MetOp-SG Betto, ESA-ESTEC, The Netherlands. Argos-4 CNES via EUMETSAT Payload ESA is responsible for instrument design of six instruments, namely the MicroWave Sounder (MWS), Scatterometer (SCA), the Radio Occultation (RO), the MicroWave Imaging (MWI), the Ice Cloud Imager (ICI), and the Multi-viewing, Multi-channel, Multi-polarisation imager (3MI).
    [Show full text]
  • The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2012
    Federal Aviation Administration The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2012 February 2013 About FAA About the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA AST) licenses and regulates U.S. commercial space launch and reentry activity, as well as the operation of non-federal launch and reentry sites, as authorized by Executive Order 12465 and Title 51 United States Code, Subtitle V, Chapter 509 (formerly the Commercial Space Launch Act). FAA AST’s mission is to ensure public health and safety and the safety of property while protecting the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States during commercial launch and reentry operations. In addition, FAA AST is directed to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space launches and reentries. Additional information concerning commercial space transportation can be found on FAA AST’s website: http://www.faa.gov/go/ast Cover art: Phil Smith, The Tauri Group (2013) NOTICE Use of trade names or names of manufacturers in this document does not constitute an official endorsement of such products or manufacturers, either expressed or implied, by the Federal Aviation Administration. • i • Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation Dear Colleague, 2012 was a very active year for the entire commercial space industry. In addition to all of the dramatic space transportation events, including the first-ever commercial mission flown to and from the International Space Station, the year was also a very busy one from the government’s perspective. It is clear that the level and pace of activity is beginning to increase significantly.
    [Show full text]
  • En Un Scan Ou En Un Clic, Accédez À La Sélection Vidéo 2011 Du CNES !
    rapport d’activité 2011 rapport d’activité 2011 Portfolio 50 ans de rêve et de défis Créé par le gouvernement en 1961 pour servir aux télécommunications, le CNES a accompli, depuis, un formidable chemin pour devenir le pivot de la politique spatiale française. Aujourd’hui, le CNES joue, en effet, un rôle moteur au sein de l’Europe de l’espace, garantit à la France l’accès autonome à l’espace et « invente » les systèmes spatiaux du futur. D’hier à aujourd’hui, découvrez en images les moments forts CONQUÉRIR CONQUÉRIR L'ESPACE L'ESPACE de l’aventure CNES ! POUR VOUS POUR VOUS CONQUÉRIR L'ESPACE POUR VOUS 19 déc. 1961 Création du Centre national d’études spatiales par la loi n° 61-1382 du 19 décembre 1961, sur une directive du général de Gaulle qui voit dans l’espace un élément susceptible de contribuer à asseoir les ambitions internationales de la France. Le CNES a pour mission le développement et l’orientation des recherches scientifiques et techniques poursuivies dans le domaine spatial. 26 nov. 1965 Lancement du premier Diamant A qui permet l’envoi du premier satellite français, Astérix. Il s’agit d’un exploit pour la France qui devient ainsi le troisième pays à construire un lanceur viable, après l’Union soviétique et les États-Unis. 1968 La base de lancement est installée en Guyane, à Kourou. Ce choix a été fait 6 déc. 1965 en raison de sa proximité avec l’équateur qui la dote de capacités de mises en orbite très performantes. Lancé depuis la base de Vandenberg en Californie, le satellite scientifique FR-1 est la première réalisation franco-américaine.
    [Show full text]
  • CHLA 2017 Annual Report
    Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Annual Report 2017 About Us The mission of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is to create hope and build healthier futures. Founded in 1901, CHLA is the top-ranked children’s hospital in California and among the top 10 in the nation, according to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll of children’s hospitals for 2017-18. The hospital is home to The Saban Research Institute and is one of the few freestanding pediatric hospitals where scientific inquiry is combined with clinical care devoted exclusively to children. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a premier teaching hospital and has been affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932. Table of Contents 2 4 6 8 A Message From the Year in Review Patient Care: Education: President and CEO ‘Unprecedented’ The Next Generation 10 12 14 16 Research: Legislative Action: Innovation: The Jimmy Figures of Speech Protecting the The CHLA Kimmel Effect Vulnerable Health Network 18 20 21 81 Donors Transforming Children’s Miracle CHLA Honor Roll Financial Summary Care: The Steven & Network Hospitals of Donors Alexandra Cohen Honor Roll of Friends Foundation 82 83 84 85 Statistical Report Community Board of Trustees Hospital Leadership Benefit Impact Annual Report 2017 | 1 This year, we continued to shine. 2 | A Message From the President and CEO A Message From the President and CEO Every year at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is by turning attention to the hospital’s patients, and characterized by extraordinary enthusiasm directed leveraging our skills in the arena of national advocacy.
    [Show full text]
  • Curiosity Assesses Conditions Favorable for Life
    Jet APRIL Propulsion 2013 Laboratory VOLUME 43 NUMBER 4 Curiosity assesses conditions Chemical analysis of rock shows key ingredients for development favorable for life of microbes on Mars By Mark Whalen This mosaic of images from Curiosity’s mast camera shows Mount Sharp, which rises more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) above the crater floor. It is the mission’s primary target after exploring Yellowknife Bay. Through its analysis of powder from a drilled rock, Deputy Project Scientist Joy Crisp said the near-term mentary rocks, abundant clay minerals and different JPL’s Curiosity rover has officially fulfilled its objec- emphasis will be on completing the analyses of the signatures of water alteration. “The gray interior of tive to assess whether past environmental conditions drilling of the rocks in the “John Klein” area—named in the rock we drilled into was a welcome surprise—if at Gale Crater were favorable for the development of honor of the former Mars Science Lab deputy project future rock drilling reveals similarly low oxidation microbial life on Mars. manager—and a more complete characterization of the levels, that should improve the likelihood of preserving Data returned by Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at concretions and veins in the rock. And there’s no hurry. organic compounds if any were there when the rocks Mars and Chemistry and Mineralogy instruments “We have no specific period of time scheduled for how were formed.” showed that the Yellowknife Bay area was the end long we will remain at Yellowknife Bay,” she said. “It Curiosity’s been making other surprising discoveries of an ancient river system or an intermittently wet depends on what we discover.” in addition to the primary goal of habitable environ- lakebed that could have provided chemical energy and The initial drilling has given the science and engineer- ments, noted Vasavada.
    [Show full text]
  • Cluster Keeping Algorithms for the Satellite Swarm Sensor Network Project
    5th Federated and Fractionated Satellite Systems Workshop November 2-3, 2017, ISAE SUPAERO – Toulouse, France Cluster Keeping Algorithms for the Satellite Swarm Sensor Network Project Eviatar Edlerman and Pini Gurfil Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract This paper develops cluster control algorithms for the Satellite Swarm Sensor Network (S3Net) project, whose main aim is to enable fractionation of space-based remote sensing, imaging, and observation satellites. A methodological development of orbit control algorithms is provided, supporting the various use cases of the mission. Emphasis is given on outlining the algorithms structure, information flow, and software implementation. The methodology presented herein enables operation of multiple satellites in coordination, to enable fractionation of space sensors and augmentation of data provided therefrom. 1. INTRODUCTION In the field of earth observation from space, modern approaches show a trend of moving away from the classical single satellite missions, where one satellite includes a complete set of sensors and instruments, towards fractionated and distributed sensor missions, where multiple satellites, possibly carrying different types of sensors, act in a formation or swarm. Such missions promise an increase of imaging quality, an increase of service quality and, in many cases, a decrease of deployment costs for satellites that can become smaller and less complex due to mission requirements. Need for incremental deployment can be caused by funding limitations or issues. Although a combination of funds from different interest groups is possible, it can be difficult to achieve. A higher degree of independence for service providers can be enabled through lower cost satellites that allow integration into satellite swarms.
    [Show full text]
  • Development and Testing of Metop-Sg Solar Array Drive Mechaism
    DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF METOP-SG SOLAR ARRAY DRIVE MECHAISM Aksel Elkjaer (1) (2), Lars Helge Surdal (1) (1) Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA), PO1003, N-3601 Kongsberg, NORWAY (2) Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, NORWAY, Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The following sections are grouped into two chapters; §2 Design Drivers presents specific technical This paper presents the development process of the requirements and the design developments that occurred KARMA5-SG Solar Array Drive Mechanism (SADM) during preliminary and critical design reviews. The for delivery to MetOp-SG satellites. The mechanism second chapter, §3 Test Results, details test setups, development is recounted with respect to key design results and non-conformances. drivers and experiences from their subsequent test verification are shared. Design drivers relating to structural, thermal and driveline performance are detailed in the context of a flight program development. Practical experiences from testing are reported and specific challenges from non-conformances are highlighted. A description of test setups and results for functional, vibration and thermal requirements are presented. The purpose of the paper is to share practices and offer lessons learned. 1 INTRODUCTION Delivery to flight programs entails demanding programmatic constraints. As such technology maturity Figure 1. KARMA5-SG MetOp-SG SADM is prioritised to assure schedule constraints. Nevertheless, system development leads to eventual 2 DESIGN DRIVERS changes that impact design decisions and success rests The purpose of the SADM is to provide precise and on the collaboration of all stakeholders. This paper smooth positioning of the solar array whilst transferring provides experiences from the development of MetOp- the electrical power it generates into the satellite.
    [Show full text]