MADRID – Airbus has completed the integration of Cheops (CHaracterising ExO Planet Satellite), the European Space Agency’s (ESA) first small mission satellite that will carry out an exciting scientific mission, to define the properties of the planets orbiting nearby stars. Cheops will study these planets using a Ritchey-Chrétien Telescope supplied by the University of Bern, in Switzerland. It was integrated last month at Airbus’ Madrid-Barajas site on the already-finished platform. … [Read more...] about Airbus completes integration of Cheops satellite
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RemoveDEBRIS spacecraft launched from ISS
TOULOUSE/STEVENAGE/BREMEN – The space debris removal technology mission RemoveDEBRIS, led by the Surrey Space Centre (SSC) at the University of Surrey, has been launched into orbit from the International Space Station (ISS). RemoveDEBRIS will demonstrate a range of innovative technologies to clean up space debris, with the first Airbus designed and built experiment due for deployment in October 2018. The spacecraft features three Airbus technologies to perform Active Debris Removal … [Read more...] about RemoveDEBRIS spacecraft launched from ISS
Airbus launches photonics payload technology project
STEVENAGE – Airbus has launched the OPTIMA project, which will deliver a proof of concept demonstrator for the use of photonic payloads in telecommunications satellites. The OPTIMA project, which is led by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage and part of Horizon 2020 funded by the European Commission, comprises specialist partners from across Europe, including: DAS Photonics, CORDON Electronics, SODERN, IMEC and Polatis. Airbus Defence and Space will define, assemble and test a … [Read more...] about Airbus launches photonics payload technology project
Airbus and human spaceflight: from ATV to Orion
TOULOUSE/BREMEN – Ten years as prime contractor for ESA – it’s just the beginning for Airbus in human spaceflight: The successful mission of the first Airbus-built ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) “Jules Verne”, launched on 9 March 2008, has become a key element of pioneering technologies for human spaceflight that includes Spacelab, the ATVs and the Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS). Together they pave the way to the Orion European Service Module (ESM), Europe´s latest … [Read more...] about Airbus and human spaceflight: from ATV to Orion
ESA and Airbus Sign Partnership Agreement
NOORDWIJK/NETHERLANDS – The European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus have signed a commercial partnership (PPP) agreement for construction, launch and operations of the commercial "Bartolomeo" platform. Airbus' new external payload hosting facility will be attached to the European Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS) from mid-2019. The agreement defines the roles and responsibilities of the two PPP partners, with Airbus investing around €40 million into the … [Read more...] about ESA and Airbus Sign Partnership Agreement
Airbus receives go-ahead for twin GRACE-FO satellites
Friedrichshafen / Ottobrunn – After a successful year-long test campaign by Airbus at IABG in Ottobrunn near Munich, the twin GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellites will soon travel to their launch site in California. During testing, the gravity-measuring satellites, which will track the continuous movement of liquid water, ice and the solid Earth due to Earth's changing seasons, weather and climate processes, earthquakes and even human activities, were … [Read more...] about Airbus receives go-ahead for twin GRACE-FO satellites