CTA will undertake tests for the GAIA satellite

Tag : folding solar panel

The Aeronautics Technologies Centre – CTA -, with itspredominant activity being both in development and certificationtrials and the creation of technologies for the aeronautics sector,has become consolidated within the aerospace sector, carrying outrelevant tasks given to it by SENER Engineering and Systems,responsible for the design of the parasol for the GAIA satellite.The GAIA mission for the European Space Agency (ESA) is one of themost ambitious space observatories and will be launched in space in2011 with the task of drawing up a wide-ranging and precisethree-dimensional map of the galaxy.
One of the key components with which GAIA is equipped is itsfoldaway solar panel which, when unfolded, covers a surface area of100 square metres thus minimizing fluctuations of temperature overthe highly sensitive optics. The GAIA parasol built by SENER willpermanently provide shade to the telescopes in order to stabilisethe optical system. Another function of this element is to housethe solar panels that will generate the electric energy necessaryfor the craft. The parasol is 11 metres in diameter and with 12identical simultaneous folding markers.
Work on the CTA trials will start next month and will continue fora period of about 18 months. The technological centre will carryout operational trials for the folding and unfolding of the parasoland the control of measurements, in three dimensions, of the keypoints of this component, as well as vibration trials in order tocheck that its operation is the same as what it will have toencounterin outer space.
All these tests will be undertaken at the new HALT laboratory,inaugurated last November by the CTA at the Araba TechnologicalPark, an innovative laboratory that has arisen with the goal ofresponding to the new technological needs and innovationrequirements of the aeronautics and aerospace sector. Go to top of page