Spiral (satellite)

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SPIRAL A
SPIRAL B
Country: FranceFrance France
COSPAR-ID : 2009-008C
2009-008D
Mission dates
Dimensions: 117.3 kg
Size: 60 cm × 60 cm × 85 cm
Begin: February 11, 2009, 22:09 UTC
Starting place: CSG , ELA-3
Launcher: Ariane 5 ECA VA187
Status: in orbit
Orbit data
Rotation time : 333.2 min
583.7 min
Orbit inclination : 2.0 °
2.1 °
Apogee height :  18,899.5 km
33,298.5 km
Perigee height :  198.8 km
231.3 km

SPIRAL ( "Système Préparatoire Infra-Rouge pour l'Alerte") is the name given to two French military test satellite for the validation of a future infrared - early warning system provided by EADS as prime contractor and Thales Alenia Space have been made as a developer on behalf of France's defense procurement agency DGA.

The two satellites SPIRALE A and B were launched as an additional payload on February 11, 2009 with an Ariane 5 together with the Hot Bird 10 and NSS-9 satellites and placed in a highly elliptical orbit (600 × 36,000 km with a 2 ° orbit inclination). They are intended to demonstrate the provision and use of a system for infrared imaging of structures on earth and their analysis as well as the establishment of an early warning chain.

Technical specifications

The cube-shaped dreiachsstabilisierten satellite based on the satellite bus MYRIADE the French space agency CNES have a size of 60 x 60 x 85 centimeters and are equipped with a dual-segment solar panel from gallium arsenide - solar cells with 160 watts of power and a lithium ion battery equipped. The satellites, each weighing 117.3 kilograms at launch, have a power consumption of 80 watts in standby and 100 watts during image acquisition. The satellites use infrared telescopes with an active cooling system to capture images. The position control takes place via four twist wheels , two MTBs (magneto-torquer bars) and four small hydrazine engines with one Newton thrust each. For orientation they are equipped with a star sensor , three sun sensors and three gyrometers .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Orbit data from SPIRALE A. n2yo, May 11, 2013, accessed on May 12, 2013 (English). and SPIRALE B. n2yo, May 11, 2013, accessed May 12, 2013 .
  2. ↑ Arianespace: Ariane 5 begins 2009 with another successful launch at Arianespace's service. February 12, 2009, accessed March 3, 2009 .
  3. ↑ Thomas Weyrauch: Early Warning System Demonstrator SPIRALE. Raumfahrer.net, February 9, 2009, accessed March 3, 2009 .
  4. ↑ EADS: Next Ariane 5 flight brings three Astrium satellites into space. February 10, 2009, accessed March 3, 2009 .

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