WORLDTECHCRISTAL ice satellite starts solar wing tests after Airbus assembly
Europe's new ice-monitoring satellite CRISTAL has had its solar arrays integrated and is entering a demanding testing phase meant to show it can cope with launch and life in orbit, the European Space Agency reports.
Assembly finished in Friedrichshafen
Engineers at Airbus's Friedrichshafen site in Germany completed assembly of the satellite in September, a milestone on the road to launch.
The project then entered a fresh round of testing in which the satellite's systems were put through their paces. A first solar panel deployment test stood out, checking that mechanisms and software sequences operate together as intended so that the solar wings can unfold once the satellite is in orbit.
Launch fit and release checks with AVIO
Working with launch service provider AVIO, the team confirmed that the satellite fits its launch adapter, the component that secures it to the rocket. The same work examined the release mechanism, which is meant to separate the satellite from the rocket so it can be injected into orbit.
Qualification review ahead of satellite-level tests
Alongside these hands-on activities the project held its Intermediate Qualification Status Review, which looked at the qualification and verification status of the satellite's equipment, instruments and subsystems before the satellite-level qualification tests begin.
The European Space Agency presents these steps as progress towards readiness for CRISTAL's mission in space.
Open questions
- When the satellite is due to launch has not been stated in the reporting?
- How the qualification tests will turn out remains to be seen?