 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
 by Staff Writers Noordwijk, Netherlands (SPX) May 31, 2022
A spacecraft computer is not much use if it cannot keep on running in space conditions - so this qualification model of QinetiQ Space's new onboard computer design has just spent two weeks in a thermal vacuum chamber in ESA's Mechanical Systems Laboratory at ESTEC in the Netherlands, exposed to the equivalent hard vacuum and temperature extremes of Earth orbit and deep space. This same onboard computer design is already planned for use by various ESA missions currently in development, including the Hera mission for planetary defence, QKDSat to test quantum key distribution from orbit, and Altius to map ozone and other trace gas profiles in Earth's atmosphere, as well as aboard the carrier platform for an in-orbit technology demonstration mission from the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Programme. "This onboard computer unit has been developed for the company's general purpose Proba-Next platform, serving small satellite missions", explains ESA small satellite engineer Stefano Santandrea, overseeing testing. "It is one of four avionics units, altogether forming the Proba-Next platform's core avionics set, called the 'Advanced Data and Power Management System 3rd Generation', or ADPMS3 for short. These units are designed with a modular approach, for use by satellites either to complement each other or separately, based on particular mission needs. Their versatility also allows for either redundant or 'single-lane' use." The combined ADPMS3 system, designed and manufactured in accordance with all applicable European Coordination on Space Standardization (ECSS) standards, comprises an onboard computer (OBC), a power control and distribution unit (PCDU) which handles the supply of power to all satellite subsystems, units and payloads, a remote terminal unit (RTU) which serves as a kind of extension of the OBC for the management of specific subsystems such as propulsion, and a mass memory unit (MMU) for payload data storage. The first generation of the ADPMS was developed for use aboard the small family of Proba satellites, and was used for the first time for the ESA's Sun-watching Proba-2 mission, in orbit since 2009, with ADPMS2 - an evolved version integrating the mass memory function - serving on the Earth-observing Proba-V and the double-satellite Proba-3 formation flying mission, due to be launched late next year. Stefano adds: "We're currently performing a complete qualification of the new ADPMS3 set of avionics units, which has four times the processing power of its predecessor, can manage and distribute a sensibly higher amount of electrical power, while being fully compliant to ESA's latest design evolutions, including end-of-life passivation and space debris mitigation regulations, requiring, between other factors, the complete passivation of the satellite at the end of its mission. "Testing is being shared between the ESTEC technical laboratories and ESTEC Test Centre managed by European Test Services, including vibration, shock and electromagnetic compatibility as well as thermal vacuum cycling. The complete avionics set qualification campaign began a month ago and is planned to last run until the summer break; so far the results are looking extremely promising."
Momentus Launches First Demonstration Flight on SpaceX Falcon 9 San Jose CA (SPX) May 26, 2022 Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) has launched its first demonstration flight of the Vigoride orbital transfer vehicle to low-earth orbit aboard the SpaceX Transporter-5 mission. Momentus also announced that it has placed its first customer satellite in orbit and plans to conduct more deployments of customer payloads in the coming days. The versatile Vigoride spacecraft, designed to support a range of transportation and in-space infrastructure services, is slated to perform a series of operations in sp ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
