SPIRALE [Astrium]
The DGA (French Government Armament Agency), Telecommunication and Information Programmes Department, has awarded EADS Astrium a contract for the design and production of a space based optical early warning system demonstrator.
EADS Astrium is the prime contractor for this 124 M Euros programme and will supply the alert and monitoring ground segment. Alcatel Space will develop the satellites whilst EADS Astrium will be responsible for satellite integration and in-orbit operations.
The demonstrator called SPIRALE (Système Préparatoire Infra-Rouge pour l'Alerte) covers the supply and operation of a complete system able to collect and analyse infrared imagery against a land background, in order to detect ballistic missiles during their boost phase, just after launch. The space segment consists of two 120 kg class micro-satellites operating on an elliptical orbit, to be launched by an Ariane-5ECA as secondary payloads in 2008.
This is the first demonstration of its kind to be conducted in Europe. It will pave the way for a future operational, early warning optical space programme. This will form a strategic link in an anti-ballistic missile defense system and will also contribute to other operational missions, such as proliferation monitoring.
Nation: | France |
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Type / Application: | Early warning |
Operator: | DGA |
Contractors: | Alcatel Space, Astrium |
Equipment: | |
Configuration: | Myriade |
Propulsion: | |
Power: | Deployable solar array, batteries |
Lifetime: | 14 months |
Mass: | 117 kg |
Orbit: | 600 km × 36000 km |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPIRALE A | 2009-008C | 12.02.2009 | Ko ELA-3 | Ariane-5ECA | Hotbird 10, NSS 9, SPIRALE B | |
SPIRALE B | 2009-008D | 12.02.2009 | Ko ELA-3 | Ariane-5ECA | Hotbird 10, NSS 9, SPIRALE A |