There the fleet satellites are put to the “acid test” regarding their suitability for space travel.
The extensive qualification program includes vibration, acoustic and shock tests, tests on electromagnetic compatibility, space simulation tests (temperature, high vacuum and sun simulation) as well as the determination of inertia characteristics.
A milestone of the qualification of satellites is the investigation of the magnetic characteristics in our magnetic field simulation facility (MFSA), where the items under test are exposed to an artificially generated magnetic field.
A structural model and three flying models of the Swarm fleet are being tested. The qualification tests at the structural model will commence in June 2009; then the satellites are tested successively. The entire qualification program will be completed by 2010.
With this challenging project IABG continues its successful co-operation with Astrium in Friedrichshafen within the science satellite sector (national and European).
The satellite fleet Swarm, a project of ESA in the context of the Living Planet Program, consists of three identically constructed satellites, which are equipped with highly precise research instruments. At a height of approx. 500 km above earth's surface they are supposed to collect high-resolution measurement data of the earth's magnetic field. The gathered high-quality data allow for an exact modelling of the earth’s magnetic field and thus contribute to a better understanding of the processes in the earth core as well as the composition of the lithosphere. As the industrial main contractor Astrium provides the Swarm satellites for ESA.
