Integration has begun at EADS Astrium for the European Space Agency’s Cryosat-2, the replacement for the original Cryosat spacecraft lost on 8 October 2005 when its Plesetsk cosmodrome launched Russian Rockot failed.
The first of Cryosat-2's hardware components have arrived at the Astrium satellite centre in Friedrichshafen, Germany, allowing the spacecraft's mechanical integration to begin.
The ESA contract for Cryosat-2 is €75 million ($98.3 million) and Astrium, which integrated the first Cryosat, is the prime contractor for the second spacecraft’s 25 company industrial team. Astrium’s Friedrichshafen facility will build the satellite’s platform and integrate its instruments.
The 720kg (1,584lb) satellite is expected to be fully operational in its 720km (447miles), 92degree inclination orbit following its planned 15 March 2009 launch.
It will operate for at least 3.5-years using its radar altimeter to scan polar ice sheets. Comparing Cryosat-2 to Cryosat, Astrium says that the new spacecraft has 85 system modifications.
The first of Cryosat-2's hardware components have arrived at the Astrium satellite centre in Friedrichshafen, Germany, allowing the spacecraft's mechanical integration to begin.
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The ESA contract for Cryosat-2 is €75 million ($98.3 million) and Astrium, which integrated the first Cryosat, is the prime contractor for the second spacecraft’s 25 company industrial team. Astrium’s Friedrichshafen facility will build the satellite’s platform and integrate its instruments.
The 720kg (1,584lb) satellite is expected to be fully operational in its 720km (447miles), 92degree inclination orbit following its planned 15 March 2009 launch.
It will operate for at least 3.5-years using its radar altimeter to scan polar ice sheets. Comparing Cryosat-2 to Cryosat, Astrium says that the new spacecraft has 85 system modifications.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
