The TEAMSAT Experience

M. Bandecchi & W.J. Ockels

TEAMSAT was the first satellite delivered to orbit by the Ariane-5 launcher on its second qualification flight on 30 October 1997. The name of this unusual project was derived from Technology, science and Education experiments Added to Maqsat. The 350-kg satellite, which was embedded in Ariane-5’s upper instrumented test platform Maqsat-H, carried five experiments provided by various European universities.

The entire project, from the initial idea to the end-of-mission, lasted exactly one year. The development, integration and testing were executed at ESTEC in the record time of seven months. Spare parts from previous projects were used to save time and reduce costs. The fast, cheap and unusual implementation included the ‘hands-on’ involvement of young graduate trainees, to exploit the project for educational purposes. The short but intense mission provided excellent scientific and technological results of relevance for future space missions.

This article provides an overview of the TEAMSAT project and explains some peculiarities which resulted in a unique experience for all of the participants.

The challenges related to the mechanical and electrical engineering, the On-board Data-Handling System, and the Test and Operation Control System are addressed by the other TEAMSAT articles in this issue of the Bulletin.