N° 69–2001: A world first : data transmission between European satellites using laser light

The experiment performed last night consisted in establishing the link four times: in the course of four successive SPOT 4 orbits, the SILEX terminal on board Artemis activated its optical beacon to scan the area where SPOT was expected to be. When contact was made, SPOT 4 responded by sending its own laser beam to Artemis. On receiving the SPOT 4 beam, Artemis stopped scanning and the optical link was maintained for a pre-programmed period lasting from 4 to 20 minutes.

During the period when the two satellites were "communicating", test data were transmitted from SPOT 4 to the ground via Artemis at a rate of 50 000 000 bits per second (50 Mbps). The extremely high accuracy of the data stream was confirmed at ESA's test station in Redu (Belgium) and the SPOT 4 receive station in Toulouse.

The main challenge in establishing an optical link between satellites is to point a very narrow beam with extreme accuracy to illuminate the partner spacecraft flying at a speed of 7000 m/s. Last night's experiment was performed under worst-case conditions since Artemis is not in its nominal geostationary position but in an lower parking orbit, circling the Earth every 19 hours.

Last night's experiment was preceded by a series of tests a week earlier, during which a link was established between Artemis and ESA's optical ground station in Tenerife. Thoses tests demonstrated the correct operation of the SILEX terminal and paved the way for the subsequent steps.

Another preparatory test will be performed over the weekend. The first experimental transmission of a SPOT 4 image is planned for early December. Before Christmas, the ion-propulsion phase is expected to start moving Artemis to its final geostationary orbit at 36 000 km. Once the spacecraft has reached that orbit, in the middle of next year, the operational phase will begin and the link between the two satellites will be established at least 5 times a day.

The SILEX system consists of two terminals: one on board Artemis, the other on SPOT 4. Both terminals were designed and built by Astrium. The definition and procurement of the system were conducted in close cooperation between ESA and the French space agency, CNES.

Artemis is an advanced communication satellite built under the leadership of Alenia Spazio (Italy). The satellite is operated from a control station in Fucino (Italy) by the Italian consortium Altel (Alenia Spazio/Telespazio). The test was organised and technically supported by an ESA team at Redu (Belgium) and an Astrium team at Fucino in close cooperation with the CNES SPOT 4 operational team in Toulouse.

Note to Editors:

Artemis was launched on 12 July 2001 from Kourou by an Ariane 5 launcher. Due to a malfunction of the launcher's upper stage, the satellite was left in a low orbit. Since then the orbit has been lifted by the satellite's own means to an altitude of 31 000 km. To raise the orbit to the geostationary altitude of 36 000 km, the satellite will use its newly designed ion propulsion system. This system will provide enough acceleration using only 20 kg of xenon gas as fuel. For the orbit-raising manoeuvre, the satellite will have to be oriented in a direction which was not included in the baseline. A team of experts from ESA, Alenia and Astrium UK and Germany (also responsible for development of the double ion-propulsion systems) are developing new control software to be uplinked to the satellite. It is planned to have the new software fully validated by mid-December and to start raising the orbit before Christmas. This will bring Artemis to its final position by summer next year. Artemis will have an operational lifetime of at least 5 years.

SPOT 4 was developed by the French Space Agency (CNES) under a partnership agreement between France, Sweden and Belgium ; it was launched on 24 March 1998. The SPOT system today comprises three satellites (SPOT 1, 2 and 4), and a worldwide network of receiving stations. Data are distributed by Spot Image located in Toulouse. SPOT 5, with enhanced capabilities (2.5 m resolution, 60 km swath and a new stereoscopic high-resolution instrument) will be launched in April 2002, thus ensuring continuity of service to users.

For further information, please contact :

ESA Communication Department

Media Relations Office

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Gotthard Oppenhäuser

ESA/ESTEC

Artemis Project Manager

Tel: +31.71.565.3168

 

For further information:

Media Relations Office

Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155

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