The three Swarm satellites carrying Canadian-designed instruments will be released simultaneously into orbit. Photo: European Space Agency.
Canadian Space Agency says early support for Calgary scientists basis for instrument development
Canadian Space Agency announces University of Calgary scientists provided the instruments used in the the European Space Agency’s first constellation of Earth Observation satellites, which launched Friday.
The Canadian Space Agency says the Swarm mission launched successfully at 7:02 a.m. EST from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia.
ESA’s Swarm mission launched on a Russian “Rockot.” Photo: European Space Agency.
The Swarm mission is designed to precisely measure the magnetic fields generated from Earth’s core, mantle, crust, oceans, ionosphere and magnetosphere.
The three satellites will accomplish their mission using the Canadian Electric Field Instrument, designed and built by COM DEV, a Canadian designer and manufacturer of space hardware.
The Canadian Electric Field Instrument is based on instruments developed by the University of Calgary.
“Early on, the Canadian Space Agency supported the University of Calgary in the initial development of the technology related to the Canadian EFI,” said Walter Natynczyk., president of the Canadian Space Agency.
“Years later, as a result of the passion and dedication of the scientists who worked on the project, the Canadian EFI is now ready to take a leap in space and support the very demanding requirements of the Swarm mission. Canada is proud to join Europe in this unique endeavour.”
In addition to its role as lead scientific institute for the Canadian EFI, the University of Calgary, supported by the Canadian Space Agency, will take an active part in the mission by ensuring the optimal functioning of the instruments.
Canadian scientists will use the measurements from the Canadian EFI to gain a better understanding of the processes that take place in the ionosphere; how space weather influences space plasma around Earth and how affects our daily lives.
Canada’s industrial and scientific contribution to the Swarm mission was enabled by the Canada-ESA Cooperation Agreement, according to the Canadian Space Agency.
The three identical satellites had been at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia since mid-September. As part of the campaign to prepare for launch, each satellite has been through a rigorous series of tests and been fuelled for their life in orbit.
Engineers and technicians at the launch facilities spent the last week carefully placing the three satellites on the tailor-made launch adapter. This is part of the upper stage of the rocket and holds them in place within the fairing during the climb to space. Critically, it allows the three to be released simultaneously into orbit.
But it is a very tight squeeze – there are only centimetres between the satellites.
Placing the third one on the adapter was particularly challenging because it had to be manoeuvred very carefully so as not to damage the two already in position.
“It is very satisfying to see the three Swarm satellites safely on the adapter,” said Bruno Bergaglio, ESA’s launch campaign manager. “Some very careful manoeuvres and dexterity were involved in positioning and bolting them onto the adapter. The different teams have all worked really hard reach this milestone and we now look forward to the next important step – encapsulating them in the rocket fairing.”
The satellites have a rather unusual shape: trapezoidal with a long boom that is deployed once in orbit.
Solar panels cover the satellites’ ‘roofs’. Standing back-to-back on the adapter, the assembly is protected by antistatic foil. This closes the gaps between the satellites so that the surface of the solar panels are not contaminated by particles.
Swarm is one of ESA’s Earth Explorer missions, which are developed in direct response to issues raised by the scientific community. They aim to improve our understanding of how Earth works as a system and the impact human activity is having on natural Earth processes.