Wednesday 02 Jul 2008 @ 10:56
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Science and Technology Facilities Council
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New disaster monitoring satellite fit for space
A new disaster monitoring satellite – designed to provide detailed images of any part of the world at times of need - has just passed stringent thermal vacuum tests, within the UK’s largest thermal vacuum chamber, at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
The UK-DMC-2 satellite, funded and built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), will join the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) - a network of four satellites already in orbit around the Earth – to provide higher performance imaging capabilities. The satellites currently in orbit allow daily imaging of any given point on the globe and have been successfully providing data and images in support of deforestation, disaster relief and agricultural monitoring.
The thermal vacuum tests, carried out in the Space Test Chamber at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, simulated the extreme temperature and vacuum in which the satellite will operate in-orbit some 686km above the Earth.
The satellite was placed inside the 3 m diameter tank and the electronics were wired up before the doors were closed and the tank evacuated of air, leaving the satellite in a vacuum. During the thermal cycling the satellite was subjected to hot and cold temperatures between 50°C and -20°C and the SSTL engineers carried out various functional tests to ensure that it will operate effectively in space.
Graham Toplis from the Space Science & Technology Department at RAL said, “Satellites have to survive some pretty extreme conditions in orbit and tests like these are essential to check for any problems before launch. It is great to see that SSTL’s latest satellite is fighting fit and will soon be able to join the others in this important disaster monitoring network.”
The DMC has been used to provide images for dozens of situations including the 2007 floods in northern and south west England; the aftermath of earthquakes in Iran, Kashmir and Columbia; the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and boats trapped in Canadian ice floes in 2007. One of the four satellites is owned by the UK and investment from the British National Space Centre (BNSC) helped enable the DMC constellation.
Notes for editors
Images of the space test chamber and the UK-DMC-2 satellite and UK-DMC satellite are available from the STFC Press Office.
Contact
Julia Short
STFC Press Office
Tel: + 44 (0)1793 442012
Mobile: + 44 (0)777 0276721
Email: julia.short@stfc.ac.uk
Testing facilities
The Space Test Chamber at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory provides a complete range of services offering vacuum, vacuum bakeout, thermal vacuum and thermal calibration testing. The STC has the capability of using its independently thermally-controlled plates to create different thermal environments within the same chamber. This facility is located within a large temperature controlled, class 10,000, clean room complex with localised areas at class 100 levels of cleanliness http://www.ssd.rl.ac.uk/envtest/Space_Test_Chamber.htm
About SSTL: Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) develops innovative technologies to change the economics of space, delivering cost effective satellite missions within rapid timescales. The Company is a world leader in the design, manufacture and operation of high performance small satellites with experience gained over more than 25 years and 27 missions launched.
SSTL employs almost 300 staff working on LEO, GEO and interplanetary missions, turnkey satellite platforms and space-proven satellite subsystems and optical systems. The Company also provides training and development programmes and consultancy services, and performs studies for ESA, NASA and commercial customers related to platform design, mission analysis and planning.
Based in Guildford, UK, SSTL is owned by the University of Surrey (85%), SSTL staff (5%), and SpaceX of the USA (10%). http://www.sstl.co.uk/
Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships.
The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned laboratories:
• The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
• The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
• The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh
The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.
The Council distributes public money from the Government to support scientific research. Between 2007 and 2008 we will invest approximately £678 million.
The Council is a partner in the UK space programme, coordinated by the British National Space Centre.
The UK-DMC-2 satellite, funded and built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), will join the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) - a network of four satellites already in orbit around the Earth – to provide higher performance imaging capabilities. The satellites currently in orbit allow daily imaging of any given point on the globe and have been successfully providing data and images in support of deforestation, disaster relief and agricultural monitoring.
The thermal vacuum tests, carried out in the Space Test Chamber at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, simulated the extreme temperature and vacuum in which the satellite will operate in-orbit some 686km above the Earth.
The satellite was placed inside the 3 m diameter tank and the electronics were wired up before the doors were closed and the tank evacuated of air, leaving the satellite in a vacuum. During the thermal cycling the satellite was subjected to hot and cold temperatures between 50°C and -20°C and the SSTL engineers carried out various functional tests to ensure that it will operate effectively in space.
Graham Toplis from the Space Science & Technology Department at RAL said, “Satellites have to survive some pretty extreme conditions in orbit and tests like these are essential to check for any problems before launch. It is great to see that SSTL’s latest satellite is fighting fit and will soon be able to join the others in this important disaster monitoring network.”
The DMC has been used to provide images for dozens of situations including the 2007 floods in northern and south west England; the aftermath of earthquakes in Iran, Kashmir and Columbia; the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and boats trapped in Canadian ice floes in 2007. One of the four satellites is owned by the UK and investment from the British National Space Centre (BNSC) helped enable the DMC constellation.
Notes for editors
Images of the space test chamber and the UK-DMC-2 satellite and UK-DMC satellite are available from the STFC Press Office.
Contact
Julia Short
STFC Press Office
Tel: + 44 (0)1793 442012
Mobile: + 44 (0)777 0276721
Email: julia.short@stfc.ac.uk
Testing facilities
The Space Test Chamber at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory provides a complete range of services offering vacuum, vacuum bakeout, thermal vacuum and thermal calibration testing. The STC has the capability of using its independently thermally-controlled plates to create different thermal environments within the same chamber. This facility is located within a large temperature controlled, class 10,000, clean room complex with localised areas at class 100 levels of cleanliness http://www.ssd.rl.ac.uk/envtest/Space_Test_Chamber.htm
About the DMC: The Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) is a unique concept created and led by SSTL. Each member of the DMC consortium owns and operates its own satellite, whilst co-operating with other DMC members on satellite tasking and image capture to achieve a 24-hour revisit worldwide. The DMC currently has four operational satellites owned by a consortium comprising CNTS Algeria (AlSAT-1), NSRDA Nigeria (NigeriaSat-1), BLMIT PR China (Beijing-1) and BNSC (UK-DMC). Two more SSTL-built satellites will be launched into the DMC later this year: Deimos-1 for Spanish customer Deimos Space and UK-DMC-2 funded by SSTL. A further two DMC satellites are under manufacture at SSTL for Nigeria and will be launched in 2009. The operation of the DMC is coordinated by DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii), a subsidiary of SSTL.. http://www.dmcii.com/
About SSTL: Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) develops innovative technologies to change the economics of space, delivering cost effective satellite missions within rapid timescales. The Company is a world leader in the design, manufacture and operation of high performance small satellites with experience gained over more than 25 years and 27 missions launched.
SSTL employs almost 300 staff working on LEO, GEO and interplanetary missions, turnkey satellite platforms and space-proven satellite subsystems and optical systems. The Company also provides training and development programmes and consultancy services, and performs studies for ESA, NASA and commercial customers related to platform design, mission analysis and planning.
Based in Guildford, UK, SSTL is owned by the University of Surrey (85%), SSTL staff (5%), and SpaceX of the USA (10%). http://www.sstl.co.uk/
Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships.
The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned laboratories:
• The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
• The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
• The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh
The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.
The Council distributes public money from the Government to support scientific research. Between 2007 and 2008 we will invest approximately £678 million.
The Council is a partner in the UK space programme, coordinated by the British National Space Centre.
