The Meteoast Third Generation – Sounder 1 system underwent validation tests: both the spacecraft and the ground segment passed with flying colours
Despite weighing 2 tonnes, and with a volume larger than a bus, the Meteosat Third Generation – Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite has made the journey across Germany, along small roads and under bridges, twice in the past months, in order to pass its final system validation tests. MTG-S1 is now officially ready for final preparations before it travels to its launch site!
Last Updated
15 July 2024
Published on
15 July 2024
MTG-S1 was assembled in the clean rooms at OHB in Bremen, Germany, where it has now returned. It travelled along a carefully planned and secured road to the IABG facilities in Ottobrun, and back, to undergo very thorough testing of both the spacecraft and the entire system.
The testing of the spacecraft aims to ensure that it can withstand the harsh conditions it is exposed to. First during the launch, when vibrations and acceleration could damage it, and then in space, where temperatures vary a lot and radiations can be very intense.
Test to ensure that MTG-S1 can deploy its solar panels as planned, in the IABG cleanroom. Credit: OHB
The so-called “system validation test” aims to validate that the spacecraft and its two main instruments can communicate efficiently and reliably with the antennas and ground segment infrastructure. This is crucial for the teams on Earth who will take control of the satellite immediately after launch to steer it into its final orbit, and later operate it during its lifetime.
The launch and early operations phase (LEOP), that starts shortly after the launch and lasts until the satellite is safely in its final orbit, will be performed by Telespazio, in Fucino, Italy. In order to replicate realistic conditions, the teams performing the tests were located both at EUMETSAT (in Darmstadt, Germany) and in Telespazio. They communicated with the satellite in Ottobrun via the same channels that would be normally used during the LEOP, instructing the satellite to perform the necessary manoeuvres to place itself in its final orbit and orientate properly.
Mating of the Infrared sounder instrument on the MTG-S1 platform. Credit: OHB
The teams worked in shifts from 7:00 until 22:30 every day. “We replicated the intense conditions that prevailed when we performed the LEOP of MTG-I1, in 2021, and applied the lessons learned then,” explains Julia Hunter-Anderson and Maria Alonso who were leading on that part of the testing. “The entire test process ran smoothly and we are now very confident that we can successfully go through these very sensitive few weeks after the launch of MTG-S1.”
“The subsequent part of the testing involved a variety of commands and manoeuvres with the platform and the two main instruments: the Infrared Sounder (IRS) and the Copernicus Sentinel-4/Ultraviolet Visible Near-infrared sounder,” continue Enrique Ordas and Marc Legendre who led on the operations part of the tests. “They confirmed that the spacecraft is functioning properly and answering to commands as expected. It passed all testing steps successfully.”
This successful set of tests paves the way for the launch of MTG-S1… Stay tuned!
