Radar Equipment From EADS To Be Deployed On TanDEM-X Satellite
Newport, Wales (SPX) Jan 03, 2008 EADS Defence and Security (DS) will equip the Earth observation satellite TanDEM-X with a special sophisticated radar system. The corresponding contract worth 26 million euros was awarded to DS by the company Astrium. The so-called Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) already proved its reliability and capabilities during the test phase of the TerraSAR-X satellite, which will be completed in the near future. The modern radar sensor makes it possible to generate high resolution images of the Earth's surface in all weather conditions and at any time of day or night. The TerraSAR-X will fly in formation with the TanDEM-X satellite, which is under construction at Atrium, thus making it possible to obtain 3D images in the future. The SAR radar is the heart of the TerraSAR-X satellite and the TanDEM-X satellite, which has an identical design. Significant portions of the radar were developed and built by Defence Electronics (DE), an integrated Business Unit of EADS Defence and Security. The core elements of this radar are the central electronics and the 384 highly integrated transmit/receive modules, which are used in the antenna and act as a preamplifier between the radar and antenna. DE also deploys special technologies for ensuring an optimal quality of the surface finish of the carbon fibre composite (CFC) emitters used. "Our SAR technology as well as the production know-how required for it form the basis for the high-quality pictures in the TerraSAR-X test phase, which has now been completed with great success. The signed contract for supplying the radar equipment for the TanDEM-X satellite underlines that our contribution to the radar system fully meets the needs of both scientists and customers in the private sector," said Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics. The TerraSAR-X Earth observation satellite ordered by the German Aerospace Center (Deutschen Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt - DLR) already delivers high-quality pictures of the Earth's surface. In the now initiated operational phase, that had been preceded by a test and calibration phase lasting several months, the high demand from public sector and private sector customers for Earth observation data collected in outer space can be satisfied. The satellite was developed and built by Astrium. TerraSAR-X was launched into orbit for its mission from the Baikonur space centre onboard a Russian launcher in June of this year. Related Links EADS Defence and Security Space Technology News - Applications and Research
ATK Extendible Support Structure Operates Successfully on the RADARSAT-2 Mission Minneapolis MN (SPX) Jan 02, 2008 Alliant Techsystems reports that its extendible support structure (ESS) operated as designed on the RADARSAT-2 mission that was launched Saturday, Dec. 14th on a Soyuz vehicle from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. |
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