Astrium will deliver
six MTG propulsion systems
to OHB
9 July 2013
Astrium, and OHB System AG,
signed a contract for the
delivery of propulsion
systems for six Meteosat
Third Generation (MTG)
weather satellites. At its
Lampoldshausen (Germany)
site, Astrium develops and
builds chemical
bi-propellant systems, and
will be responsible for the
delivery of the complete
sub-systems: from initial
design, to construction and
diagnostics, through to
supply, integration, and
testing. A team of 40 at
Astrium’s site will work on
the propulsion systems with
the first complete unit
delivered in the first
quarter of 2015.
The MTG series will
include four satellites
(MTG-I) equipped with
imaging instrumentation and
two satellites (MTG-S) with
sounding instruments. ESA is
developing two prototype MTG
satellites (MTG-I1 and
MTG-S1) based on EUMETSAT's
user and system
specifications, and is
coordinating the delivery of
the subsequent satellites
based on EUMETSAT's
requirements. The prime
contractor for the MTG
programme is Thales Alenia
in France. OHB System AG has
been selected as a partner
in the programme for six
satellite platforms as well
as taking a lead role on
both of the sounder
satellites.
Astrium has developed a
Unified Propulsion System
(UPS), which is adapted for
the third generation
Meteosat satellites and
offers a complete
pre-integrated drive system
with 16 10-Newton thrusters
for orbit and attitude
control, and one 400-Newton
apogee engine, all fuelled
from two propellant tanks
(925l) with hydrazine (MMH)
and nitrogen
tetroxide NTO).
After its release from the
launch rocket, the
400-Newton apogee engine
will propel the satellite to
its 36,000 km geostationary
orbit. At this stage, the
majority of the fuel, around
80 percent of the total,
will have been expended. The
remaining 20 percent of the
fuel will serve the
satellite's 16 thrusters to
maintain its exact orbit
path for the 13-year
mission, and for any
adjustments required.
Astrium, as a leading
supplier of space
transportation systems, has
delivered complete UPS drive
and propulsion systems for
many other large European
communication satellites;
this UPS is designed for a
lifespan of up to 15 years
and with the highest weight
efficiency.
The new
contract is proof of
Astrium’s competitiveness,
directly resulting from
significant company
investments and from its
sustainable process
improvement programme.
One aspect of note on the
MTG project is the provision
of the satellite structure
for the integration of the
UPS by Astrium. Astrium will
be responsible for fitting
the propellant and helium
tanks, as well as the
400-Newton apogee engine and
satellite structure – a
central cylinder
approximately three metres
in height – and the
10-Newton thrusters. Astrium
will then weld all the
conduits, modules and tanks
to the system, and carry out
all the wiring and final
system testing.
