Essaim 1, 2, 3, 4
The Essaim demonstrator is a system of several micro-satellites (hence the name ‘swarm’ in French) for analysis of the electro-magnetic environment of the Earth’s surface under development for the French Ministry of Defence’s procurement agency DGA. The system, which is scheduled to be operational in 2004, also comprises a ground control segment and a ground station for data processing. It is called a ‘demonstrator’ as the mission’s objective is to assess the operational capability of such a system, paving the way for the next generation.
The Essaim satellites are based on the Myriade micro-satellite multipurpose product line developed jointly by Astrium and the French Space Agency CNES since 1998. In early 2000, the French Ministry of Defence (DGA) awarded Astrium the contract for the development, manufacturing of this turnkey system of micro-satellites and associated ground segment. Under the contract, Astrium is also responsible for launch services, personnel training and system operations during the three-year life duration of the programme.
| Nation: |
France |
| Type / Application: |
ELINT |
| Operator: Opérateur |
DGA |
| Contractors / Constructeur |
Astrium |
| Equipment |
|
| Configuration |
Myriade |
| Propulsion |
|
| Lifetime / Durée de vie |
3 years |
| Operatinal / Opérationnel |
2005  2008 |
| Mass / Masse |
120 kg |
| Orbit / Orbite |
|
ESSAIM, Micro-Satellites In Formation
The Essaim demonstrator is a system of several micro-satellites for electro-magnetic environment analysis of the Earth’s surface for which EADS Astrium is prime contractor to the French Ministry of Defence |
Paris, France Jul 03, 2005
The ESSAIM micro-satellites, launched at the end of 2004, have been operational since May, 2005. The French defence procurement agency DGA chose EADS Astrium as a joint prime contractor for the development of the ESSAIM system.
This demonstrator, based on 4 micro-satellites flying in formation through space, will analyze the electromagnetic environment on the ground in a number of frequency bands used exclusively for military communications.
The ESSAIM program is a "turnkey" system, comprising the space segment, ground segment, satellite launch facilities and operations. The other partner in this program, Thales Airborne Systems, is contributing its electromagnetic systems expertise.
Space segment
The space segment comprises four satellites, flying in controlled formation in two out-of-phase orbits. The four 120-kg micro-satellites are based on the Myriade platform, developed by French space agency CNES in partnership with EADS Astrium.
This program features the very latest space technologies to meet the payload weight and size restrictions imposed by micro-satellites. These technologies include triple junction gallium arsenide solar cells, lithium-ion batteries, highly-integrated electronic components and fiber-optic gyros.
Ground segment
Co-located X-band terminals at the mission centre at the DGA's weapons electronics centre (CELAR) in Bruz, near Rennes in western France will receive the data stored on the satellites, as they become visible.
The dedicated ESSAIM satellite control centre is located at the CNES facility in Toulouse, near CNES's other Myriade micro-satellite control centers.
