A Multi-Purpose and Fully Autonomous in-flight Monitoring System for Launchers

Paper number

IAC-07-D2.6.09

Author

Dr. Clemens Kaiser, Kayser-Threde GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Guenter Fricke, Kayser-Threde GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Horst Pfeuffer, Kayser-Threde GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Guerric Pont, Kayser-Threde GmbH, Germany

Year

2007

Abstract

For the Ariane 5 ECA re-qualification in February 2005 (L521) Kayser-Threde has delivered a test satellite called MAQSAT-B2 including a full autonomous in-flight measurement system to acquire a full set of environmental measurement data (acoustic, shock, acceleration, pressure, etc.) during the complete launch mission. This test satellite was full representative to a real passenger in terms of static and dynamic characteristics. It contains also some experiments and a micro-satellite called Slosh-Sat to be separated instead of MAQSAT-B2 itself which remained attached on the upper stage. 

In addition to that Kayser-Threde has developed an on-board camera system for Ariane 5 called OCAM which has been successfully flown on L533 in October 2006. The videos recorded during launch mission provided interesting and direct information about the different mission phases (lift-off, booster separation, main stages separation, etc.) which are difficult to derive from in-flight sensor data. In addition to that two cameras were installed to film the deployment of the Japanese ultra-lightweight reflector demonstrator LDREX. The OCAM concept with up to four cameras contains a fully autonomous power and telemetry kit and provides sufficient flexibility to be accommodated on any launcher.

Based on the success of both missions Kayser-Threde has developed a flexible concept for multi-purpose in-flight monitoring on launchers (environmental measurement and video data) typically to be used for launcher qualification where a significant higher number of measurement data has to be monitored and transmitted to ground than during nominal operation flights and even during operational flights there might be the need to have more in-flight monitoring data than the nominal launcher on-board system is able to acquire and to transmit to ground. The system consists of a complete infrastructure with own power subsystem, data acquisition and signal conditioning subsystem and telemetry unit. This additional unit can be placed wherever respective envelope is available, typically in the payload bay or on the upper stage. Combining this with the option of an additional video system a complete monitoring system can be offered. Finally the system will be completed by a respective GSE available from the other programs.

The presentation will give a short summary of the MAQSAT-B2 campaign, an overview of the OCAM performance including video presentation of the last mission and finally the derived concept for the new fully autonomous multi-purpose in-flight monitoring system for launchers.

Abstract document

IAC-07-D2.6.09.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-D2.6.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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