Professional Documents
Culture Documents
November 1999
Meteosat
Second
Generation
The
Satellite
Development
Meteosat
Second
Generation
i
ESA BR-153 ISBN 92-9092-634-1
i
CONTENTS
Foreword 1
1 Introduction 3
2 Programmatics 11
2.1 Organisation 11
2.2 Overall Schedule 12
3 Satellite Development 13
4 Payload
4.1 The Spinning Enhanced Visible and
Infra-Red Imager (SEVIRI) 23
4.2 The Mission Communication Package (MCP) 33
4.3 The Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget
Experiment (GERB) 38
4.4 The Search and Rescue (S&R) Mission 40
5 Satellite Subsystems 43
iii
The authors wish to thank those companies and institutes that have provided illustrations and
photographs for this Brochure, but for which a specific acknowledgement has not been possible.
iv
Foreword
Now, in November 1999, MSG-1, the • last but not least, subsystem tests
Meteosat Second Generation development performed on Flight Model hardware and
flight model, is about one year away from its software that prove that the performance
scheduled launch. Its flight-readiness review margins identified on earlier models are
is planned to take place in August 2000, also available on the Flight Model.
with launch on an Ariane vehicle scheduled
for the end of October 2000, from Kourou, At this point, integration of the second of
French Guiana. the three-spacecraft series has also begun, in
time for its scheduled launch in 2002.
We in the Project look forward to these
events with confidence, secure in the This Brochure provides a comprehensive
knowledge that the flight-model spacecraft overview of the history of the MSG
will deliver excellent performance, based on programme, the mission objectives, which
a development plan that includes: are tailored to meet the ever evolving and
ever more demanding needs of operational
• the mechanical and thermal tests already meteorology and climatology, and the
successfully performed on a Structural design and development of the MSG
and Thermal Model spacecraft spacecraft, the systems and subsystems of
• the electrical performance tests, some of which incorporate many technical advances,
which are still ongoing, on an Electrical and of their state-of-the-art payloads.
Model spacecraft, and
G. Dieterle
MSG Project Manager
1
2
1 Introduction
3
The MSG programme is a co-operative 1.2 History of the MSG
venture with Eumetsat, the European Satellite Concept
Organisation for the Exploitation of
Meteorological Satellites, based in The concept of the Meteosat Second
Darmstadt, Germany. For the first MSG Generation (MSG) satellites has been
satellite, Eumetsat is contributing about developed through a series of workshops
30% of the development cost of the ESA organised by ESA with the European
programme and is financing 100% of the meteorological community, which started in
two additional flight units, MSG-2 and Avignon, France, in June 1984.
MSG-3. In addition to having overall system
responsibility with respect to end-user This first MSG workshop identified the major
requirements (i.e. operational meteorology future requirements for space meteorology
from geostationary orbit), Eumetsat is also in Europe as follows:
developing the ground segment and • geostationary satellites providing high-
procuring the three launchers, and will frequency observations
operate the system nominally from 2001 • an imaging mission with higher
until 2012. resolution and more frequent
observations than the first-generation
The MSG programme is based on the Meteosats
heritage of the first-generation Meteosats, • an all-weather atmospheric-sounding
which have now been operated for about mission.
22 years with 7 consecutive satellites in
orbit. This allows the technological risk to be Based on the Avignon workshop, three
kept to a minimum. Moreover, costs are also expert reports on imagery, infra-red and
being kept to a minimum thanks to the low- millimetre-wave sounding and on data
cost spinning-satellite design principle used circulation were commissioned by ESA.
and due to the economy of scale of a
three-satellite procurement in combination The reports on imagery and sounding were
with contracting rules with industry such as presented to a second workshop with the
firm fixed pricing and incentives based on European meteorological community in
meeting schedule and on in-orbit Ravenna, Italy, in November 1986. That
performance. workshop confirmed the basic requirements
of the Avignon workshop and provided
MSG is an ESA Optional Programme, which some updates and refinements.
was started in 1994 and is funded by
thirteen of the Agency’s Member States: The data circulation report was reviewed at
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, a workshop in Santiago de Compostela,
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, in May 1987. This workshop
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United recommended two important changes
Kingdom. concerning the Data Circulation Mission
(DCM) of the first-generation Meteosat
4
satellites: the processed image data must be instrument requires a very stable rotation of
available within 5 minutes of acquisition, as the drum, and these two requirements
required for nowcasting applications, and cannot be satisfied simultaneously.
the current analogue WEFAX service to Accordingly, the only viable configurations
secondary user stations must be replaced by for the multi-instrument satellites were
a digital format. three-axis-stabilised configurations.
In 1987, ESA initiated several instrument However, a few months later further doubts
concept studies, covering: were raised about the usefulness of the
• a visible and infra-red imager (VIRI) sounding mission, as proposed in Bath, and
• an infra-red sounder (IRS) about the relationship between the
• a microwave sounder (MWS) sounding mission of MSG in a geostationary
• the data-circulation mission (DCM) orbit and sounding missions from polar-
• the proposed scientific instruments. orbiting satellites. As a consequence, the
mission requirements were again
Parallel studies of an 8-channel VIRI and of reconsidered, and further mission studies
the infra-red sounder were performed by were called for.
industry, and they demonstrated the basic
feasibility of these instruments. The The essential point of the reconsideration of
microwave sounder was studied via parallel the mission requirements was that some
contracts, which revealed major problems sounding capability had to be retained. It
with respect to, for example, mass, diameter was proposed to achieve this by adding 5
and sensitivity. additional narrow-band channels to the
imager VIRI that had been defined in
In the same year, ESA also provided parallel Avignon and in Bath, in order to obtain a
contracts to study possible satellite pseudo-sounding capability. Consequently,
configurations for MSG. As a result, a spin- the corresponding instrument was then
stabilised satellite configuration was named the ‘Enhanced VIRI’, or EVIRI. Thus,
excluded due to the presence of the further mission-feasibility studies were
microwave sounder. Dual-spin configura- requested by Eumetsat and initiated by ESA.
tions were considered but rejected as the
MWS and IRS instruments require very stable On the basis of the results of these
pointing of the platform, whilst the IRS deliberations and a recommendation by
5
ESA, the Eumetsat Council determined in 1.3 Mission Objectives
June 1990 that:
As the successor of the Meteosat first-
• MSG should be a spin-stabilised satellite generation programme, MSG is designed to
support nowcasting, very short and short
• the spin-stabilised satellite should have a range forecasting, numerical weather
capability for air mass analysis as the forecasting and climate applications over
essential part of the former sounding Europe and Africa, with the following
mission and a high-resolution visible mission objectives:
channel. • multi-spectral imaging of the cloud
systems, the Earth’s surface and radiance
Following this decision, and the new emitted by the atmosphere, with
requirement that the Spinning Enhanced improved radiometric, spectral, spatial
Visible and Infra-Red Imager (SEVIRI) should and temporal resolution compared to the
also be capable of providing data for air first generation of Meteosats
mass analysis, ESA conducted an
assessment study of the feasibility of • extraction of meteorological and
accommodating the extra channels into geophysical fields from the satellite image
SEVIRI. Originally, EVIRI had 8 channels, data for the support of general
and the new SEVIRI requirements called for meteorological, climatological and
14 channels (1 high-resolution visible, 3 in environmental activities
the VNIR, and 10 in the IR).
• data collection from Data Collection
The assessment study concluded that the Platforms (DCPs)
imager could be expanded to
accommodate 12 channels in total • dissemination of the satellite image data
(1 high-resolution visible, 3 in the VNIR, and meteorological information upon
and 8 in the IR). The requirement for processing to the meteorological user
10 cooled IR channels was essentially not community in a timely manner for the
feasible, given the cost and schedule support of nowcasting and very-short-
constraints. range forecasting
6
MOP MSG
Imaging format
Wavelength
Channels
IR 1.6
Water vapour WV 6.4 WV 6.2
WV 7.3
IR 3.9
IR window IR 11.5 IR 8.7
IR 10.8
IR 12.0
• the derivation of atmospheric motion Scan principle Scanning telescope Scan mirror
vectors in support of numerical weather
prediction on a global scale, and on a
DATA CIRCULATION MISSION
regional scale over Europe
Transmission raw data rate 0.333 Mb/s 3.2 Mb/s
to monitor significant weather evolution Transmission burst mode 2.65 Mb/s Search & Rescue package
on a local scale (e.g. convection, fog,
snow cover)
• the air-mass analysis in order to monitor atmospheric motion vectors or surface The mission evolution
atmospheric instability processes in the temperature and also new types of from First- to Second-
Generation Meteosat
lower troposphere by deriving vertical information on atmospheric stability to the
temperature and humidity gradients users. Moreover, as the channels selected
for MSG are similar to those of the AVHRR
• the measurement of land and sea-surface instrument currently flown in polar orbits,
temperatures and their diurnal variations the efficiency of the global system will be
for use in numerical models and in increased owing to the synergy of polar
nowcasting. and geostationary data.
7
Earth imaging frames: provides data from the full image area in all which can be used to support nowcasting
full image area, HRV channels except for the high-resolution and very short-range forecasting
channel normal mode
visible channel, where the scan mode may applications.
and alternative mode
be varied via telecommand from the normal
mode to an alternative mode. The two channels in the visible spectrum, VIS
0.6 and VIS 0.8, will provide cloud and land-
The six channels VIS 0.6, VIS 0.8, IR 1.6, IR surface imagery during daytime. The chosen
3.9, IR 10.8 and IR 12.0 correspond to the wavelengths allow the discrimination of
six AVHRR-3 channels on-board the NOAA different cloud types from the Earth’s surface,
satellites, while the channels HRV, WV 6.2, as well as the discrimination between
IR 10.8 and IR 12.0 correspond to the vegetated and non-vegetated surfaces.
Meteosat first-generation VIS, WV and IR These two channels also support the
channels. The following channel pairs are determination of the atmospheric aerosol
referred to as split-channel pairs, since they content.
provide similar radiometric information and
may therefore be used interchangeably: VIS The IR 1.6 channel can be used to
0.6 & VIS 0.8, IR 1.6 & IR 3.9, WV 6.2 & WV distinguish low-level clouds from snow
7.3, and IR 10.8 & IR 12.0. surfaces and supports the IR 3.9 and IR 8.7
channels in the discrimination between ice
The HRV channel will provide high- and water clouds. Together with the VIS 0.6
resolution images in the visible spectrum, and VIS 0.8 channels, the IR 1.6 channel
8
The spectral characteristics of the SEVIRI channels
may also support the determination of at 9.66 µm, denoted as IR 9.7, will be
aerosol optical depth and soil moisture. utilised to determine the total ozone
content of the atmosphere and may also be
The IR 3.9 channel can be utilised to detect applied to monitor the altitude of the
fog and low-level clouds at night and to tropopause.
discriminate between water clouds and ice
surfaces during daytime. Furthermore, the The two channels in the atmospheric
IR 3.9 channel may support the IR 10.8 and window, IR 10.8 and IR 12.0, will mainly be
IR 12.0 channels in the determination of used together with the IR 3.9 channel in
surface temperatures by estimating the order to determine surface temperatures.
tropospheric water-vapour absorption.
The IR 13.4 channel covers one wing of the
The two channels in the water-vapour fundamental vibration band of carbon
absorption band, WV 6.2 and WV 7.3, will dioxide at 15 µm and will therefore mainly
provide the water-vapour distribution at two be utilised for atmospheric temperature
distinct layers in the troposphere. These two sounding in support of air-mass instability
channels can also be used to derive estimation.
atmospheric motion vectors in cloud-free
areas and will support the IR 10.8 and IR Product Extraction Mission
12.0 channel in the height assignment of The product extraction mission will provide
semi-transparent clouds. Level 2.0 meteorological, geophysical and
oceanographical products from SEVIRI Level
The IR 8.7 channel may also be utilised for 1.5 imagery. It will continue the product
cloud detection and can support the IR 1.6 extraction mission of the current Meteosat
and IR 3.9 channels in the discrimination system, and provide additional new
between ice clouds and Earth surfaces. products. MSG meteorological products will
Moreover, the IR 8.7 channel may also be be delivered to the meteorological user
applied together with the IR 10.8 and IR community in near-real-time via the Global
12.0 channel to determine the cloud phase. Telecommunication System (GTS) or via the
satellite's High-Rate Image Transmission
The SEVIRI channel, which covers the very (HRIT) and Low-Rate Image Transmission
strong fundamental vibration band of ozone (LRIT) schemes.
9
MSG mission overview
Data Collection and Relay Mission Meteosat system, but coding, modulation
The data collection and relay mission will scheme, data rate and data formats will be
collect and relay environmental data from different. Different levels of access to the
automated data-collection platforms via the high- and low-rate information transmission
satellite. The mission will be a follow-on to data will be provided to different groups of
the current Meteosat Data Collection users through encryption.
Mission, with some modifications as follows:
The Meteorological Data Distribution
• Increased number of international Data mission of the current Meteosat system will
Collection Platform (DCP) channels be integrated into the HRIT and LRIT
• Increased number of regional channels missions of MSG.
• Data Collection Platform (DCP)
retransmission in near-real-time via the Geostationary Earth Radiation
LRIT link Budget (GERB) experiment
• Some of the regional channels will The GERB payload is a scanning radiometer
operate at a higher transmission rate. with two broadband channels, one
covering the solar spectrum, the other
Dissemination Mission covering the infrared spectrum. Data will be
The dissemination mission will provide calibrated on board in order to support the
digital image data and meteorological retrieval of radiative fluxes of reflected solar
products through two distinct transmission radiation and emitted thermal radiation at
channels: the top of the atmosphere with an accuracy
of 1%.
• High-Rate Information Transmission
(HRIT) transmits the full volume of Geostationary Search and Rescue
processed image data in compressed (GEOSAR) relay
form The satellite will carry a small
• Low-Rate Information Transmission (LRIT) communications payload to relay distress
transmits a reduced set of processed signals from 406 MHz beacons to a central
image data and other meteorological reception station in Europe, which will pass
data. the signals on for the quick organisation of
rescue activities. The geostationary relay
Both transmission schemes will use the allows a continuous monitoring of the
same radio frequencies as the current Earth’s disc and immediate alerting.
10
2 PROGRAMMATICS
11
• develops the ground segment payload. The GERB instrument is developed,
• ensures consistency between the system based on funding from the United Kingdom,
segments (space, ground, launcher Belgium and Italy, as an ‘Announcement of
services segments) Flight Opportunity’ instrument. This optical
• operates the system (over at least 12 years). instrument, monitoring the Earth’s radiation,
will make use of a small free volume and
A project team in Eumetsat acts as the system available resources on the spacecraft
architect and integrator. The development platform.
and integration of the overall ground
segment is carried out by the Eumetsat Launcher
team, with the development of the individual Arianespace is providing the launch vehicle
ground facilities subcontracted to industrial and all associated launch services. The
companies across Europe. Once integrated launch will be performed nominally by an
and fully tested, the MSG system will be Ariane-5 vehicle, as part of a dual or triple
routinely operated by the Eumetsat launch. Compatibility with Ariane-4 (as part
operations team. of a dual launch inside Spelda-10) is
retained as a back-up.
Industrial Consortium
For the development, manufacturing,
integration and testing of the MSG satellites, 2.2 Overall Schedule
ESA placed a contract with a European
industrial consortium, led by the French The Phase-B activities were started in
company Alcatel Space Industries (Cannes). February 1994, during which detailed
The work has been subdivided over 105 plans and requirements were established,
contracts, which were negotiated with 56 necessary for precise definition of the main
different companies. development, qualification and manufac-
turing activities. Phase-C/D started in
The UK National Environmental Research July 1995 and will last until the Flight
Council (NERC), acting through the Acceptance Review in August 2000. It will
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), is cover the detailed design, development,
responsible for the provision of the scientific qualification and manufacture of the satellite.
12
3 SATELLITE DEVELOPMENT
13
MSG MSG
The satellite itself is built in a modular way S/L BAND TPA S BAND TTC
and is composed of the following elements:
UHF BAND EDA L BAND EDA
• The Spinning Enhanced Visible and
Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) instrument, SEVIRI &
ANTENNA PLATFORM TELESCOPE
located in the central compartment of UPPER
the satellite, ensures the generation of SEVIRI BAFFLE
STRUTS
(and COVER) MAIN
image data; formatting of image data is
PLATFORM
completed at satellite level before
transmission to the ground.
• The Mission Communication Package
(MCP), including antennas and
transponders, is in the upper
compartment. It ensures the transmission
LOWER
of image data to the ground and the SOLAR ARRAY STRUTS
relay of other mission data.
PROPELLANT TANKS
• The GERB (Geostationary Earth Radiation CENTRAL
Budget) instrument. COOLER TUBE
14
For its initial boost into geostationary orbit
as well as for station-keeping, the satellite
uses a bi-propellant system. This includes
small thrusters, which are also used for
attitude control. The MSG solar array, built
from eight curved panels, is wrapped
around the satellite body.
15
3.2 AIT Programme It was subsequently dismantled to recover
the flight elements from it.
The AIT programme is based on a three-
model philosophy, namely: The EM
The main purpose of the EM is to verify all
• a Structural and Thermal Model (STM) of the satellite’s electrical interfaces, and to
• an Engineering Model (EM) demonstrate that the satellite can meet the
• Flight Models (FM). required performance goals. A second
important task is to establish and validate
Electrical integration and testing, which are test procedures and databases, together
performed on EM and FMs, are done as with the relevant EGSE. All satellite EM tests
much as possible at subsystem level. At were performed in Alcatel’s facilities in
satellite level, these subsystems are Cannes (F).
assembled with a guiding principle of the
necessary minimum of testing. The FM
The FM undergoes a series of tests to
The STM demonstrate that it is flight worthy, and that
The main purpose for building an STM is to it fulfils the performance requirements.
qualify the mechanical structure of the These tests are the same, or similar to tests
satellite, and to validate its thermal performed on the STM and EM and will be
behaviour. This model serves also for performed at Alcatel in Cannes.
mechanical interface verification and to
establish mechanical procedures. The The Main Test Programme
mechanical tests on the STM were – The Thermal-Balance Test was performed
successfully completed in spring 1999. in the Large Solar Simulator at ESTEC (NL)
16
-5
In a vacuum environment (1x10 bar), Thermal-balance
various thermal cases were simulated and testing in progress in
the Large Space
the temperature response of the satellite Simulator at ESTEC in
was compared with the predictions of Noordwijk (NL)
the mathematical thermal model. This
test was performed in spring 1998 with
good results.
– Mechanical Tests: Their purpose is to
verify that the resonance frequencies of
the satellite are as required by the
launcher authority, and to
demonstrate that the mechanical
construction of the satellite is strong
enough to withstand all of the
mechanical forces that it will experience
throughout its lifetime.
– Integration Test: Its purpose is to
establish correct functioning of a
subsystem, and to verify its interfaces
with other subsystems.
– Integrated System Test: The IST verifies
that the entire satellite functions correctly,
and that the performance requirements operations that depend on the spinning
can be achieved. motion of the satellite, such as correct
– Antenna Tests in CATR: The tests de-spinning of the L-band and UHF-band
performed on the Compact Antenna Test antennas, and the east-west scanning of
Range (CATR) are designed to the SEVIRI instrument.
demonstrate the performance and – SEVIRI Reference Test Ambient: This test
functioning of the antenna subsystem on verifies SEVIRI’s performance under
the satellite. ambient conditions. As such, it forms part
– EMC Test: This is the classical test to of the IST, but because of the complex
demonstrate electromagnetic set-up with a dedicated optical system it
compatibility of the satellite with its is designated as a separate test.
expected environment, with at least 6 dB – SEVIRI Optical Vacuum Test: This test
design margin. Also included is a test to demonstrates the performance of the
demonstrate non-sensitivity with respect SEVIRI infrared channels, with the
to electrostatic discharge. detectors operating at temperatures of
– Spin Test: This test is performed with the 85 to 95 K. To achieve this, the satellite is
satellite mounted on a spin table, placed in a vacuum chamber, together
rotating at its nominal operational speed with the same optical system that was
of 100 rpm. This test validates all used for the reference test.
17
EMC test in progress in 4 m x 5 m), over various types of dollies
the CATR (structures on which the satellite is
mounted), via lifting devices, to simple
masts on which to mount test antennas.
18
to ensure that the MSG satellite is such a The CDR will freeze the detailed design,
‘quality product’ meeting the customer’s manufacturing processes and procedures
agreed requirements, a set of proven in order to define the FM hardware
activities, to be carried out during design baseline.
inception up to launch, are brought
together and detailed in a Product A QRR is held to consider the collective
Assurance (PA) Plan. This ensures that evidence from tests, inspections, reviews
quality is built-in right from the start of the and analyses to prove that requirements
project. have been met with the margin specified.
The primary elements addressed in the PA The FAR is held at the end of the FM test
Plan are: programme and will establish the
– Design/Qualification Reviews flightworthiness of the satellite. The FAR
– Reliability and Safety also gives consent to ship to the launch
– Critical Items Control site.
– Parts, Materials and Processes
– Software Quality Assurance The LRR is held at the launch site, six days
– Audits prior to launch, to verify whether the whole
– Production Control system, including the satellite, the ground
– Configuration & Documentation Control stations, the LEOP and the launcher are
– Cleanliness and Contamination Control. ready for launch.
19
Parts, Materials and Processes Configuration & Documentation
All parts, materials and processes used in Control
building the MSG satellite must be qualified – Configuration Control: Documentation
for use in a space environment and meet ESA for the MSG project is kept under formal
requirements. change control.
– Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs):
Software Quality Assurance Closure of major NCRs is essential before
The quality of the mission software is also of proceeding to the next level/integration/
vital importance as any problem here could test.
seriously affect the satellite’s operation. – Data Packs: In order to formally complete
a DRB, a full Acceptance Data Pack (ADP)
Audits must be approved by PA at the
The Prime Contractor is required to conduct appropriate levels. This provides full
audits of his own (internal audits) and of his traceability right back to component
subcontractors’ and suppliers’ (external audits) level, and is invaluable in tracking down
facilities, equipment, personnel procedures, possible causes of problems that may
services and operations in order to verify occur in the later stages of build/test.
compliance with the PA requirements.
Cleanliness and Contamination
Production Control Cleanliness is one of the driving elements
Extensive controls are in place during the for the satellite’s imaging-mission
production of the various satellite models. performance. SEVIRI is a contamination-
These controls provide a fully documented sensitive optical and cryogenically cooled
overview of all areas, including assembly and instrument. It has units that are built to
test and have built-in traceability. Typical different classes of cleanliness and this
controls are: presents a difficult technical situation during
– Mandatory Inspection Points (MIPs): environmental test phases.
These take place at critical points during
manufacture. A contamination-budget assessment has
– Test Readiness Review (TRR): These take been generated to predict the performance
place prior to formal acceptance testing degradation due to contamination that may
of the related item. arise as a consequence of the on-ground
– Test Review/Delivery Review Board activities.
(TRB/DRB): These Boards review test
results and manufacturing data and
decide on suitability for delivery to the 3.4 Image-Quality Ground
next stage of integration. Support Equipment (IQGSE)
– Material Review Boards (MRBs): These
Boards are held when a major non- The Image-Quality Ground Support
conformance has been found against the Equipment (IQGSE) for the Meteosat Second
relevant requirements. Generation (MSG) satellites is a computer
20
system for the processing and quality
measurement of MSG images. The IQGSE
software is coded in the C language with
an X/Motif man/machine interface
operating on a UNIX-based workstation.
21
22
4 PAYLOAD
23
• The rapid scan (line scan) is performed
from east to west thanks to the satellite’s
rotation around its spin axis. The latter is
perpendicular to the orbital plane and is
nominally oriented along the south-north
direction.
24
• M1: large Primary Mirror, concave
aspherical, with 510 mm optical
useful diameter
• M2: Secondary Mirror, concave
aspherical, of 200 mm diameter
• M3: Tertiary Mirror, convex aspherical, of
60 mm diameter.
25
The Scan Assembly flop type of mechanism based on a DC voice
mounted on a shaker coil motor. To limit the shock loads when
table for test purposes
reaching the rest positions, dedicated shock
absorbers are used.
26
and the warm part of the instrument (RA The Refocusing
housing). The DCW needed to be optimised Mechanism
27
The Radiator Assembly
during integration
of two main assemblies: the VNIR and HRV The Functional Control Unit (FCU)
Optical Bench (VHRO) for the 4 visible provides the SEVIRI command, control
channels, and the Warm/Cold IR Optical and interfaces with the MSG spacecraft’s
Bench (WIRO/CIRO) for the 8 infra-red on-board data handling subsystem.
channels. The CIRO will be thermally The FCU has three major sections:
regulated at 85 and 95 K depending on the • the core section including the
solstices and on the cooler capabilities functional mode and sequence
during MSG’s lifetime, whilst the VHRO is management
regulated at 20ºC. • the mechanism section (electronics
driving the mechanisms)
The FPOBs support the detectors and • the heater and telemetry section
perform the appropriate imaging after the dedicated to thermal power
in-field beam separation at the telescope management as well as telemetry
focal-plane level. Thus, most of the SEVIRI conditioning and management;
spectral, geometric and radiometric
performances rely directly on the FPOB’s The thermal control of the instrument is also
design and performance. managed by the FCU.
28
The Detection Electronics (DE) consist of the
detectors, the Pre-amplifier Unit (PU) and
the Main Detection Unit (MDU).
29
signals into digital signals. The sampling sensing windows are telecommanded. No
delays are adjustable via telecommand, for processing at SEVIRI level (filtering or
all 42 chains of SEVIRI. The actual quantifica- dynamic offset correction) is applied to the
tion is made inside the MDU by a 12-bit star-sensing function. This raw data is sent
ADC, for an effective 10-bit resolution at the to the spacecraft in the same way as any
electronics output, after digital dynamic- other auxiliary data.
offset and fine-gain corrections. Auxiliary
data coming from the telemetries, which SEVIRI Performance Verification
are needed for radiometry and image The on-board calibration process for the IR
processing, are added to the detection data channels of the Imaging Radiometer
for image processing on the ground. consists of three steps:
• measuring the cold deep-space radiance
A star-sensing function is implemented in for the determination of the instrument
the MDU. It is activated whenever the star- self emission
Radiometric Noise Specified per channel Compliant at BOL test Large margins
MTF and Image Quality Specified per channel See examples Sufficient margins
with templates
Scan Motion Specified for S/N Stable and Compliant Large margins
scanning / pointing
30
SEVIRI EM channel registration
* Column 1 describes the Test Phases (TP); Columns 2 to 5 show the resulting registration error between Test Phases for both Visible and Infrared Channels.
Column 6 and 7 describe registration between Visible and Infrared Channels. This shows a stable SEVIRI instrument when submitted to various thermal
environments. Note: TP3 covers the SEVIRI Cold Operational (COP) phase at 85K, TP4 the SEVIRI Cold Operational phase (COP) at 95K, TP5 the SEVIRI Hot
Operational (HOP) phase and TP6 the SEVIRI PCA Hot case.
Specification 1.07 0.53 0.49 0.25 0.35 0.75 0.75 0.28 1.50 0.25 0.37 1.80
(K)
Prediction 0.47 0.13 0.14 0.07 0.14 0.28 0.14 0.11 0.36 0.12 0.17 0.47
(K)
Measured 0.43 0.16 0.14 0.07 0.11 0.19 - 0.07 0.21 0.07 0.11 0.23
(K)
* For the end-of-life assessment, about 30% to 50% margin has to be considered, depending on channels
31
SEVIRI engineering-
model integration at
satellite level
• measuring the radiance coming from the The VNIR channel calibration is based on a
on-board black body (at temperature vicarious calibration consisting of measuring
T0) resulting in an output (in counts) some known landmarks on Earth.
as measured by SEVIRI; the black-body
true radiance is determined through the SEVIRI Development Status
knowledge of the thermal and optical The SEVIRI Engineering Model has
properties of the instrument successfully passed all instrument-level
testing and has demonstrated that the
• measuring the on-board black body at design meets the specification. In the
temperature T0+∆T with ∆T~20 K; this meantime, the SEVIRI EM has been
last measurement is performed to help in integrated into the EM satellite, where
correcting the impact of the elements environmental testing has started.
that are not in the beam path of the The SEVIRI Proto-Flight Model (PFM) has
black body, namely the scan mirror and completed instrument-level testing with the
the M1 mirror and its baffle. same success and has been shipped to
Alcatel (F) for integration into the satellite.
32
4.2 The Mission
Communication Package
(MCP)
33
The Toroidal L and S-band antennas are 32 antenna columns. By switching the right
narrow-band, reduced-height, slotted amount of power to the right column and
waveguide antennas, which provide being synchronised with the satellite spin
toroidal patterns in the plane perpendicular rate, an antenna beam is created which
to the spin axis. They are mounted side-by- appears to be stationary with respect to the
side inside a black-painted radome. The ground. A high-gain (~ 12 dB) antenna
low-gain L-band TPA functions as back up beam is thus available, easing the ground-
for the high-gain, L-band electronically station requirements for the secondary user
despun antenna in transmit mode. The S- community.
band TPA acts as a receive-only antenna for
the pre-processed high- and low-resolution The UHF-band EDA Antenna: To receive the
data uplinked from the primary ground meteorological data from the Data Collection
station. Platforms (DCPs) operating in the UHF band
and the newly implemented Search &
The L-band Electronically Despun Antenna Rescue mission on MSG, an electronically
(EDA) is used in transmit mode only to send switched UHF array of 16 crossed dipoles
the raw image data to the primary ground was selected. These dipoles are positioned in
station and the processed data, received via front of the L-band EDA, which at a distance
the S-band, to the secondary users. As the of 3/4 λ acts as a reflector for the UHF array.
satellite rotates at 100 rpm and the high- A simplified beam-forming network is
gain antenna beam needs to be aimed at employed, whereby the outputs of the
the ground continuously, an electronic dipoles are connected to the inputs of four
means of despinning this beam in the 4-way electronic switches, which in turn are
opposite direction to the satellite’s rotation is connected to the inputs of a 4-way power
implemented. This antenna is composed of combiner. Of the 16 dipoles, four are used
32 columns of 4 dipoles each, and is to form the beam whereby the next dipole is
mounted in a cylindrical way close to the selected every 22.5˚ synchronised with the
top of the satellite. satellite’s spin rate.
The transmit beam is built up from four or To control and supply all of the complex
five active columns, which are fed by an timed switching for the various active
array of: one 4-Way Power Divider (4WPD), elements of the antenna subsystem, a
4 Variable Power Dividers (VPDs), and 8 dedicated equipment item known as the
Single-Pole Four-Way PIN diode switches Common Antenna Control Electronics
(SP4T). The VPD allows the RF transmit (CACE) is used. This equipment receives
signal to be split into two output signals of synchronisation signals from the data-
constant phase, but with seven handling subsystem and generates the
programmable output-level ratios between correctly timed drive signals for the SP4Ts
the two outputs. The 8 outputs from the and VPDs in the antenna subsystem. Apart
VPDs are fed via 8 electronic switches from the normal despun mode, this
(SP4Ts) to the feed boards of the equipment also allows the antenna to be
34
put into a fixed-beam mode, which permits
the antenna beam pattern to be measured
on the ground or in orbit.
35
MCP communication-link characteristics and associated frequencies
Bit rate 7.5 Mbps 2.3 Mbps 290 kbps 100 bps 400 bps
TT&C transponder
block diagram
36
An MSG TT&C
transponder
Receiver
• Up-link frequency 2068.6521 MHz MSG-1
2067.7321 MHz MSG-2
2069.5729 MHz MSG-3
• Carrier acquisition range –128 dBm to –50 dBm
• Telecommand operation range –110 dBm to –50 dBm
• Telecommand modulation scheme PM of subcarrier on up-link carrier
• Telecommand subcarrier 8 kHz
• Bit rate 1000 bps
• Noise figure 3 dB
Transmitter
• Down-link frequency (two modes of 2246.5 MHz MSG-1
operation, coherent or non-coherent 2245.5 MHz MSG-2
w.r.t. the up-link frequency) 2247.5 MHz MSG-3
• Output power 3W
• Telemetry modulation scheme PM of subcarrier on down-link carrier
• Telemetry subcarrier 65.536 kHz
• Bit rate 8192 bps
Ranging Channel
• RNG tone capability 100 – 300 kHz
• RNG channel video bandwidth 650 kHz
Power Consumption
• 2 Rx ON, 2 Tx OFF 12.4 W
• 2 Rx ON, 1 Tx ON 32.4 W
37
the remaining redundant SSPA can be used to the up-link carrier received from the
by any of the other channels in case of ground station.
failure.
The TTC Subsystem is composed of two
The Search and Rescue signal is pre- identical transponders, each consisting of
amplified by the UHF receiver and then several modules packaged in a single unit.
further filtered, frequency up-converted and The receiver and transmitter of each
power-amplified in the S&R Transponder. transponder are electrically independent,
The objective is to provide support to the except for the necessary interconnections to
international COSPAS-Sarsat humanitarian- perform the ranging operations. The
oriented Search and Rescue Organisation. receivers of the transponders are always ‘on’
at any time during the satellite’s lifetime,
After power amplification, all of the while the transmitters are operated in cold
channels (RD+LRIT, HRIT, DCP and S&R) are redundancy.
filtered and combined in the output
multiplexer (OMUX), before being fed to the
Antenna Subsystem. 4.3 The Geostationary
Earth Radiation Budget
TT&C Subsystem Experiment (GERB)
The Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TTC)
Subsystem consists of two S-band MSG satellite resources allow for the
transponders and performs the following accommodation of an Announcement of
functions: Opportunity instrument. The ensuing flight
opportunity has been taken up by a
• Reception and demodulation of the up- European consortium (led by the UK
link command and ranging subcarriers of Natural Environmental Research Council
the S-band signal transmitted by the acting through the Rutherford Appleton
ground control station. Laboratory), which has developed and
• Delivery of the telecommand video signal manufactured a new optical instrument, the
to the on-board Data Handling GERB. With a three-mirror telescope and all
Subsystem. supporting functions, GERB will measure
• Modulation of the down-link carrier by the components of the Earth’s Radiation
the received and demodulated ranging Budget (ERB), which is the balance
signal and the telemetry signals received between the incoming radiation from the
from the on-board Data Handling Sun and the outgoing reflected and
Subsystem. scattered solar radiation plus the thermal-
• Power amplification and delivery of the infrared emission to space.
S-band down-link carrier to the Antenna
Subsystem. Observations from space have a central role
• The down-link carrier can be generated in understanding the Earth’s Radiation
coherently or non-coherently with respect Budget since they are quasi-global. GERB
38
will measure energies leaving the Earth over
the geographical region seen by MSG,
thereby exploiting the excellent temporal
sampling possible from geostationary orbit.
These observations are the first of their kind
and will make an important contribution to
the enhancement of the climate simulation
models (diurnal cycle), with strong practical
relevance to global climate change, food
production and natural-disaster prediction.
GERB consists of two units: • the quartz filter mechanism used to Components of the
The Instrument Optical Unit (IOU) which is switch the measurement into alternate Earth’s Radiation
3 Budget
very compact (56 x 35 x 33 cm ), and wavebands (total and shortwave)
includes essentially: • the calibration devices (black body and
• the telescope (three-mirror anastigmatic solar diffuser)
system) • the passive thermal design.
• the de-scanning mirror for staring at
appropriate targets The Instrument Electronic Unit (22 x 27 x
3
• the detector (a linear blackened 25 cm ), which on one side conditions
thermoelectric array of 256 elements) power and signals from MSG to further The Instrument Optical
Unit (bottom left)
with its signal-amplification and distribute them to the optical unit, and on
processing circuitry (including ASICs and the other collects and formats data The GERB flight
a DSP) generated by the IOU before transmitting it model (below)
39
Performance characteristics of the GERB instrument
Radiometry SW LW
Absolute Accuracy <1% <0.5%
Signal/Noise 1250 400
-2 -1 -2 -1
Dynamic Range 0 – 380 W.m ster 0 - 90 W.m ster
Instrument Mass 25 kg
Power 35 W
to MSG (owing to its microprocessor, GERB The basic S&R concept involves:
has a high level of autonomy). • Distress radio beacons (ELTs for aviation
use, EPIRBs for maritime use, and PLBs
The radiometric performance is obtained for personal use), which transmit signals
after adequate calibration: during distress situations.
• On the ground, the instrument has been • Instruments on board satellites in
subjected to an extensive characterisation geostationary and low Earth orbits,
programme under vacuum. which detect or relay the signals
• On board, a solar-illuminated integrating transmitted by distress radio beacons.
sphere and a black-body device with • Ground receiving stations, referred to as
known characteristics are implemented in Local User Terminals, which receive and
the optical unit. process the satellite down-link signal to
generate distress alerts.
The scan mirror, which rotates counter to • Mission Control Centres, which receive
the satellite’s spin direction, allows the alerts and forward them to Rescue
telescope to point successively at the black Coordination Centres or Search and
body, the Earth, and the integrating sphere Rescue Points of Contact.
within each MSG period. Therefore –
considering deep-space views also – a highly The geostationary S&R system component
accurate correction of each GERB Earth pixel consists of 406 MHz repeaters carried on
measurement can be performed on the board various geostationary satellites
ground. including MSG, and the associated ground
facilities which process the satellite signal.
4.4 The Search and Rescue The MSG S&R frequency plan is based on
(S&R) Mission the 406.05 MHz up-link from the
emergency beacons to the satellite, and a
In addition to serving the primary down-link to the ground station in the S&R
meteorological missions, MSG is also frequency band centred at 1544.5MHz. The
equipped with a transponder for the received beacon signals are directly
Geostationary Search and Rescue service of translated to the L-band down-link, with
the COSPAS-Sarsat organisation. main filtering of the band performed in the
40
S&R transponder block using a SAW filter • switch-off in the event of a power
operating in the up-link frequency band. shortage
• minimum mass and cost.
The COSPAS-Sarsat S&R frequencies are not
very different from those of the Meteosat These constraints have been fulfilled by
data links, and with just a little extra making the S&R transponder non-
development effort the S&R requirements redundant. Both the UHF receive antenna
have been accommodated on MSG. and the L-band transmit antenna provide
Nonetheless, since S&R is not part of the coverage of the full Earth as seen from
meteorological objectives of the MSG longitude 0.0°. The geographical area
programme, it was agreed to implement this covered complements the existing
payload subject to some constraints, namely: Cospas-Sarsat geostationary coverage very
• no interference with the meteorological well.
missions
41
5 SATELLITE SUBSYSTEMS
Primary Structure
The main elements of the Primary Structure
are:
• the Service Module Structure providing
support for payloads and for the main
part of support subsystems equipment
• the Antenna Platform to accommodate
the MCP subsystem equipment.
43
The Antenna Platform is manufactured in to the Thermal Lower Closing Support,
sandwich form with aluminium skins, which sustains the LAM Thermal Closing,
providing interfaces for the accommodation the valves, and also the lower SAP
of both MCP transponders on its lower face, supports.
and Antenna Assembly on its upper face.
SEVIRI Baffle
Secondary Structure and Baffle The SEVIRI Baffle is a light structure,
The function here is to provide intermediate protecting the instrument’s field of view
supports for Unified Propulsion System (UPS) from spurious radiation or pollution, and is
and Electrical Power System (EPS) equipment: constituted by a main body with three
structural frames. The main body’s form fits
UPS Secondary Structure the shape of the SEVIRI optical beam, and
• Two LAM supports, each constituted by consists of:
three pairs of struts providing the LAM • A metallic envelope, which is an
for iso-static and rigid mounting, assembly of two curved thin shells and
alignment accuracy and stability two lateral iso-grid plates for rigidity
• Two helium-tank supports, each purposes.
constituted by one tripod and one bipod, • Two optical vanes fixed at the end of the
providing the helium tanks with iso-static metallic envelope.
and rigid mounting. • A thermal-control interface flange.
• Two E/W (east/west) and two N/S
(north/south) thruster supports, The thermo-optical and optical perform-
constituted by structural brackets for rigid ances are ensured by the optical vanes and
mounting, with vertical adjustment black-paint coating inside the main body.
capabilities (E/W thrusters). The three frames stiffen the SEVIRI entry
• The E/W and the N/S thruster supports baffle, and ensure its interface with the
are fixed, respectively, to the Main main platform cover and mechanism.
Platform and to the Antenna Platform.
Materials
EPS Secondary Structure Primary Structure Materials
• SAP (Solar Array Panel) supports, • Aluminium alloy for most of the
constituted for each of the eight SA structural parts and machined parts
panels by a set of 6 brackets providing (rings, struts brackets) or sheets for the
the SA panels with rigid and iso-static Central Tube skins or platform skins.
mounting, to allow their thermo-elastic • Carbon-Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) for
dilation. Of the six brackets used for each struts of propellant tank supports.
SAP, two are fixed to the Antenna • Titanium for the most loaded brackets of
Platform and two to the Lower Closing the propellant-tank support struts.
Support. • Other materials for structural part
• A Lower Closing Support (based on a assembly (titanium bolts for strut fittings)
light, profiled structure) provides fixation or bonding (adhesive).
44
Secondary Structure Materials The main requirements for the UPS are to
• Aluminium alloy for most of the structural inject the satellite into geostationary orbit
parts. after its release from the Ariane launcher.
• Other materials for structural part This will consume about 83% of the total
assembly (titanium bolts for strut fittings) loaded propellant of 976 kg contained in
or bonding (adhesive). four spherical tanks of 750 mm diameter.
Besides the spin-rate control and the
5.2 The Unified Propulsion attitude manoeuvres, most of the propellant
System (UPS) will be consumed by inclination control
(11% of total propellant mass) and
The first-generation Meteosat was equipped east/west manoeuvres (4%) throughout the
with two independent propulsion systems. A seven years of nominal operation.
solid-propellant apogee boost motor, MAGE-
1, and a small hydrazine propulsion system The UPS is comprised of the following key
served for orbit, attitude, spin and nutation equipment:
control. The MSG UPS combines the two
propulsive tasks in one common tankage • two 400 N LAMs
and feed system, and it will be a world first • six 10 N RCTs
for a UPS to operate at under 100 rpm. The • eleven fill and drain valves
incorporation of a Propellant Gauging • four propellant tanks
Sensor Unit (GSU) is an innovative element, • two latch valves
allowing the user to have an accurate • two pressurant tanks
knowledge of the propellant remaining • three pressure transducers
during the last three years of the mission. • four gauging sensors.
The significantly larger mass of MSG, The design of the UPS, the choice of
weighing in at about 2000 kg compared to equipment, the manufacturing tools and
the 720 kg of the first-generation satellite, procedures are based on the experience
has led to the implementation of a pressure- acquired during the Spacebus projects.
regulated bi-propellant propulsion system Nevertheless, a significant analytical design,
operating with Mono-Methyl Hydrazine test and assembly preparation effort was
(MMH) as the fuel and nitrogen tetroxide required, to adapt the well-known
(MON-1) as the oxidiser. This not only integration approach to the totally different
provides the higher total impulse required MSG configuration.
for the MSG mission, but also leads to an
improvement in the specific impulse: a 7 % Most of the equipment is of European
increase comparing the LAM with the origin, with only the latching valves, the
previous solid ABM, and a 15% increase RCT flow-control valves and the propellant
when comparing the bi-propellant Reaction filter cartridges being procured from the
Control Thrusters (RCTs) with the hydrazine USA. The UPS has a mass of 94 kg and is
monopropellant thrusters used previously. operated by the Attitude and Orbit Control
45
Electronics (AOCE). A specially built UPS unit Propellant Isolation Assemblies (PIAs) for
tester allows self-standing checkout and oxidiser and fuel are located between the
operation of the UPS at equipment and propellant-tank cutouts. The four propellant
satellite level via a skin connector. tanks, the two pressurant tanks and the two
LAMs are mounted via struts and brackets to
Subsystem Design the central cone. The fact that the axial
The main design driver for the UPS is the thrusters (N/S thrusters) are located on the
spin environment and the payload cooler antenna platform required a staggered
accommodation in the central cone of the integration sequence, which led to the
Primary Structure. This configuration provision of screw joints on pipes leading
necessitated the placement of two LAMs at from the main platform to the antenna
a radius of 1200 mm from the spin axis. platform. The position of the radial thrusters
(E/W thrusters) has been chosen such that
It was decided to accommodate the UPS on the diagonal use of one upper and one
the lower face of the main platform, which lower thruster will always have the satellite
was not occupied by any other equipment. centre of gravity between them throughout
The three main subassemblies, the the mission.
Pressurant Control Panel (PCP) and the two
The routing of the 90 m of quarter-inch
titanium tubes needed careful consideration
regarding the launch and spin environment,
to avoid tanks being filled-up or depleted
unsymmetrically or propellant being trapped
in pressurant lines during initial spin-up.
46
The first UPS flight
model (FM1) on its
transport and
integration jig
Due to the non-availability of a European spin rate and reference pulse are generated
two-stage regulator, it was decided to by specific Sun, Earth and acceleration
operate the RCTs for the initial spin-up and sensors. Many of the off-the-shelf equipment
attitude manoeuvres in a pre-blow-down items have required changes and additional
mode from the propellant tanks (12 – 8 performance testing. The main processing
bar), prior to pressurisation to 18.5 bar for unit of the Attitude and Orbit Control
the apogee manoeuvres. This will avoid any Electronics (AOCE) and the Passive Nutation
leakage-related critical pressure increases. Damper (PND) are MSG-specific
After station acquisition, the LAMs and the developments.
pressurisation part will be isolated by firing
the normally open (NO) pyro valves. The changes introduced within the AOCS
include:
In order to allow maximum propellant • synchronisation pulse generation in
utilisation, a high gauging-accuracy eclipse
requirement was specified, leading to the • stable satellite, inertia ratio > 1
design and development of a very precise • multi-burn apogee manoeuvres
capacitive propellant Gauging Sensor Unit • active nutation damping using a micro-
(GSU), which is built into the propellant controller
tanks. The qualification testing has shown • interface with data-handling software
that an accuracy of ± 0.05% of total tank • Passive Nutation Damper tuned for
volume can be achieved for the last three geostationary orbit (GEO).
years of mission. Such a performance has
never previously been achieved on a satellite The first change means that the AOCS has
propulsion system and is 30 times better to provide for a satellite synchronisation
than with existing techniques. It is important pulse in eclipse, while the second means
in so far as it allows accurate planning for that the Active Nutation Damping (AND) in
the final de-orbiting manoeuvre. Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) is
primarily required in case a liquid apogee
boost motor fails. This is less critical than on
5.3 The Attitude and Orbit the first-generation spacecraft, where the
Control System (AOCS) non-stable configuration (solid apogee
boost motor and satellite) needed
Like the first-generation Meteosats, MSG continuous surveillance and active nutation
is equipped with a similarly designed control until separation of the boost motor.
subsystem whereby the attitude, nutation, It was decided to limit the utilisation of the
47
Left: The Attitude and
Orbit Control
Electronics (AOCE) unit
AND to GTO and to fine-tune the PNDs for other equipment had previously been used
the GEO inertia ratios, to achieve optimum on scientific and telecommunication
performance. satellites. The ACU was used on the first-
generation Meteosats.
The AOCS configuration with the AOCE and
the Attitude Sensor Assembly (ASA) consists The total mass of the AOCS is 16 kg and
of the following equipment: its power consumption (mode-dependent)
varies between 8 and 14.5 W, with a
1x AOCE, internally redundant maximum peak during UPS Liquid
1x Sun Sensor Unit (SSU), internally Apogee Motor commanding of 70 W for
redundant 100 ms.
1x Earth Sensor Unit (ESU),
3 channels Subsystem Design
2x Accelerometer Units (ACUs) The major tasks to be fulfilled by the AOCS
1x Attitude Sensor Bracket (ASB), are:
equipped with connector bracket,
harness, alignment mirror and – Attitude Measurement
bonding straps • Sun aspect angle
2x Passive Nutation Dampers (PNDs). • Earth aspect angle
• Nutation angle and frequency (GTO).
Two sets of System Checkout Equipment – Satellite Synchronisation Pulse
(SCOE), derived from the subsystem Generation
electrical ground-support equipment, were • SSP 1, Sun Synchronisation Pulse
provided for satellite and launch-activity • SSP 2, Earth Synchronisation Pulse
support. Except for the AOCE and PND, the • Spin rate.
48
– Nutation Damping As the spinning of the MSG satellite
• Active nutation damping, axial RCTs in provides a self-stabilised attitude, it was
closed loop (GTO) decided that most of the manoeuvres
• Passive nutation damping, PNDs (except AND) should be open-loop and
(GEO). ground-controlled, with two ground
stations available during GTO. This
– Operational interface with the UPS minimises the on-board monitoring and
• Monitoring of UPS sensors reconfiguration effort. In order to further
• RCT, LAM and Latching Valve protect the satellite against propulsion-
command generation and control induced effects (leakage and spurious
• Monitoring of command duration and firing), the latching valves will be closed
number of pulses generated. after manoeuvres. Action blocks in the
monitoring and recovery function (Data
Besides servicing these main tasks, the Handling Subsystem software) are therefore
AOCS interfaces with the Data Handling limited to reacting to spin-rate anomalies,
and the Electrical Power Systems. Integrated synchronisation loss and invalid sensor
in one box, AOCE-B is cold-redundant to pulses.
AOCE-A. Significant cross-strapping is
provided between all sensors and actuators The UPS provides for two redundant
within the AOCE. The temperature branches, which are cross-strapped to both The AOCS/UPS
monitoring of the RCTs and LAMs and the AOCEs. Three RCTs can provide all necessary actuator arrangement:
green indicates the
coils of the latching valves have their own control torques. For east/west manoeuvres,
nominal thruster
redundancies. the diagonal radial thrusters are used (e.g. branch, and red the
R1 and R3) in pulse mode. redundant branch
For fast failure identification, it was decided
to equip the combustion chambers of RCTs
and LAMs with thermocouples. As a
thermocouple always needs the reference
temperature at its junction to the normal
harness, the thermocouple wires have been
routed to the AOCE, where this transition is
performed within the connectors.
Thermistors installed inside the AOCE close
to these connectors measure the required
reference temperature. The thermocouple
output is then transformed into a standard
analogue output. The AOCE also provides
monitoring of secondary voltages, current
and converter temperatures for
housekeeping purposes.
49
Main AOCS requirements and performance
Synchronisation Pulse
Sun, SSPI < 0.05 deg < 0.046 deg outside the central region of the Sun Aspect Angle
< 200 ns, jitter < 136 ns under common mode noise and AOCE jitter
Eclipse, SSP2 < 0.18 deg < 0.175 with 1 rpm spin rate variation into eclipse,
excluding Earth radiance error
AND in GTO 5 to 0.15 deg 5.2< τ < 10 min at 55 rpm and inertia radio
in < 10 min 1.2 < λ < 1.35
PND in GEO 0.01 deg to 2 arcs τ < 4 min 50% margin for λ = 1.1 at 40˚C
in < 5 min and λ = 1.25 at 5˚C
Spin-Rate Measurement
GTO, 5-100 rpm < 1 rpm, 5-30 rpm < 0.001 rpm no nutation, no eclipse
< 0.1 rpm, 30-100 rpm < 0.002 rpm no nutation, no eclipse
GEO, 99-101 rpm < 0.01 rpm < 0.0002 rpm no nutation, no eclipse
< 0.1 rpm, 30-100 rpm < 0.05 rpm no nutation, no eclipse
Spin-Axis-Orientation Measurement
GTO < 0.03 deg < 0.273 deg all ESUs, using on ground ESU calibration mode,
no nutation, no wobble
GEO < 0.1 deg < 0.05 deg no nutation, incl. wobble error
Nutation Determination
GTO < 0.01 deg resolution 0.001-0.0023 deg for 0.01-5 deg at 55 rpm
GEO < 0.003 deg < 0.0023 deg for 0.003-0.12 deg at 100 rpm
50
capacity of the battery cells. Extensive One of MSG’s two
investigations and tests established that nickel-cadmium
batteries
capacity loss is minimised if the smallest
dimension of the cell is orientated in the
direction of the acceleration force.
51
The Power Distribution
Unit (PDU) (left)
The Pyrotechnic
Release Unit (PRU)
(right)
52
Architecture of the
Data-Handling
Subsystem (DHSS)
FCU of the SEVIRI subsystem. The FCU The CDMU is also equipped with a pro-
incorporates a dedicated OBDH interface, grammable Central Reconfiguration Module
the Remote Terminal Interface (RTI). (CRM), which can reconfigure the DHSS
(including the CDMU) upon reception of
The CDMU is master on the OBDH bus, and several different alarm signals. Most of these
controls all traffic on the bus. Commands alarms are generated by the CDMU itself
and acquisitions are thus sent out from the (e.g. on detection of a non-correctable
CDMU to the different subsystems of the memory error or a memory-protection
satellite via the RTUs, or via the SEVIRI FCU. violation), but there is also one external
53
system alarm relating to the satellite ‘safe Onboard Software
mode’. All spacecraft command and control, all
autonomous functions like onboard failure
The DHSS provides the following basic handling and thermal control, as well as all
functions: telemetry acquisition and reporting and all
• Decodes and distribute telecommands but the most basic telecommanding is
through a hot-redundant telecommand centralised in the MSG onboard software.
(TC) chain using TC packets formatted
according to the ESA Packet The fast rotation of the satellite imposes
Telecommand Standard. All TCs, except special requirements on the exact
high-priority TCs (handled by TC decoder synchronisation of the payload data
hardware), are forwarded directly to the acquisition, which directly influences the
onboard software. quality of the image. The overall mission
• Acquires and encodes telemetry data requirement of 24 h autonomy in orbit
(S-band) at a rate of 8192 bps, including requires a relatively comprehensive onboard
coding, formatted according to the ESA failure detection, isolation and recovery
Packet Telemetry Standard. (FDIR) setup. These functions, together with
• Acquires and encodes payload data a telemetry and telecommand
(L-band) at a speed of 2 x 3.75 Mbps, implementation, which fully complies with
including coding. Three Virtual Channels the ESA Packet Telemetry/Telecommand
are used: on VC0 and VC1, packet Standards, and the higher-level, application-
headers are generated by Basic Software oriented requirements defined in the ESA
(BSW), while on VC7, all telemetry Packet Utilisation Standard, are among the
packets are generated by Application most demanding and drive the software
Software (ASW), except for idle packets. design to a large extent.
• Provides an On-Board Time (OBT)
function using a high-precision TCX Since several of these tasks are
oscillator. asynchronous in nature, use of a
• Distributes a set of dedicated clocks conventional scheduler-based operating
including: AOCE clock, CACE clock, MCP system, which activates tasks periodically in
clock, and Payload (SEVIRI/GERB) Master a fixed sequence, is not possible. Instead,
Clocks. the software is based on a pre-emptive
• Controls the reading out of raw data multitasking kernel, which supports
from the payload (SEVIRI and GERB) asynchronous task activation. Abandoning
using CTS/RTS hand-shaking signals. the relative simplicity of a scheduler-based
• Provides a processing capability for ASW system comes at the expense of increased
control functions. software complexity and the need for
• Provides command and monitoring special software verification and testing
capabilities for other subsystems efforts, which led in turn to an extended
through RTU input/output channels. and comprehensive software verification
and validation programme.
54
The onboard
hardware/software
context
B000h
Constants
E000h
Free RAM
FFFFh
55