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MICRO-Satellite à traînée Compensée pour l'Observation du Principe d'Equivalence
SATELLITE 
Mass: 200 Kg
Sun synchronous polar orbit at 700 km altitude with an ascending node at 6 or 18H
Lifetime: 1 year

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The satellite is constituted of:
 
 

a microsatellite platform which general design is based on the Myriade generic platform but also integrates new equipment and special functions for this mission.

    There is no orbit control with hydrazine thrusters, they are replaced by a set of cold gas microthrusters (nitrogen) set upon 4 corners of the cubic structure.
    The attitude control uses the two payload accelerometers and the microthrusters. It is performed together with a new acceleration control function which enables to nullify all the non gravitational components measured by the accelerometers.
    The solar generator, specially developed for this satellite, is composed of two rigid panels which do not turn because the orientation of the satellite guaranties a permanent pointing toward the Sun, thus avoiding to generate parasite disturbances for the mission.

a payload, installed at the center of the satellite, is formed by:

    A T-SAGE instrument made up of two independants SAGE differential accelerometers, each possessing an mechanical module and the control electronic unit associated, plus a common electronic unit for the interface with the satellite,
    A lattice structure equiped of thermal protection which hold the sensitive units and maintains a constant temperature: the Payload Assembly Subsystem.

The whole satellite has a mass of 250 kg with dimensions much larger than those of the other Myriade satellites: 1 m x 1 m x 1.5 m.


Latest Update 30/09/2010

 
Schema Satellite Microscope
Schema Satellite Microscope
Satellite Mockup.