Flight International Online news 12:00GMT: EADS Astrium has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop and build three satellites for the Swarm mission which will investigate the earth's geomagnetic field and give precise "views" inside the Earth.
The satellites are expected to be manufactured within 48 months.
The Swarm mission will provide detailed data on the geomagnetic field and its temporal evolution, giving new insights into improving our knowledge of the Earth's interior and climate. The three Swarm spacecraft are scheduled for launch in 2010.
The Swarm constellation will comprise three satellites in three different polar orbits - two flying side by side at an altitude of 450 km and a third at an altitude of 530 km.
"We are very proud that ESA has placed its confidence in us for this mission. EADS Astrium, in particular at Friedrichshafen, has a long and successful track record in designing and developing magnetically clean systems, and in the UK at Stevenage has an equally impressive record in producing satellite structures and propulsion systems." said Dr. Reinhold Lutz, EADS Astrium's vice president for Earth Observation, Navigation and Science.
This mission will also enable analysis of the Sun's influence on the Earth.
In addition, it is expected that Swarm will have practical benefits including better forecasting of radiation hazards in space, and improved navigation and exploration for new resources on Earth.
Source: Flight International
