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ALTIUS

Topic: Engineering

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 7 min
ALTIUS
ALTIUS logo
Mission typeEarth Observation
OperatorEuropean Space Agency
Websitehttps://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius
Mission duration>3 years (design lifetime)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftALTIUS
BusPROBA
ManufacturerQinetiQ Space
Launch mass266 kilograms (586 lb)[1]
Dry mass254 kilograms (560 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date2027 (2027) (planned)
RocketVega-C
Launch siteKourou ELV
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemSun-synchronous orbit
RegimeLow Earth
Altitude≈668 km[1]
Repeat interval3 days[1]
Main payload
NameALTIUS instrument
TypeMulti-channel tuneable spectral imager
WavelengthsUV: 250-355 nm (tuneable)
VIS: 440-675 nm (tuneable)
NIR 600-1020 nm (tuneable)[1]
Resolution1 to 3 km (vertically)[1]
ALTIUS BISA logo
ALTIUS BISA logo  

ALTIUS (Atmospheric Limb Tracker for Investigation of the Upcoming Stratosphere) is a satellite mission proposed by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy and currently under development by the European Space Agency (ESA). Its main objective is to monitor the distribution and evolution of stratospheric ozone in the Earth's atmosphere.[2][3][4] The mission is scheduled for launch in 2027 from the Guiana Space Centre on Vega-C.[5][6][7]

Background

The industrial consortium is led by QinetiQ Space (now Redwire Space[8]), acting as mission prime.[9][3] The satellite design is based on the PROBA small satellite bus.[2] The payload, developed by OIP Sensor Systems, is an innovative UV, visible, and NIR instrument.[10] The satellite is primarily funded by Belgium, with additional support from Canada, Luxembourg, and Romania.[11]

Timeline

  • In January 2020, ESA has awarded a contract, worth €75 million, to QinetiQ Space (now Redwire Space[8]) to build the satellite.[12][13]
  • In January 2022, ESA signed a contract with Arianespace for the joint launch of ALTIUS and FLEX on Vega-C.[14]
  • In July 2025, Redwire has completed the assembly of ALTIUS' satellite platform at their facilities in Belgium.[15]
  • In March 2026, Redwire successfully tested the deployment of the satellite's solar panels.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Altius". ESA. https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fussen, Didier; Dekemper, Emmanuel; Errera, Quentin; Franssens, Ghislain; Mateshvili, Nina; Pieroux, Didier; Vanhellemont, Filip (3 August 2016). "The ALTIUS Mission". Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Discussions: 1–40. doi:10.5194/amt-2016-213. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "First ALTIUS Symposium". Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy. 2017-05-02. https://events.oma.be/indico/event/20/page/0. 
  4. ↑ "Earth Observation Programmes". European Space Agency. 2016. https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Ministerial_Council_2016/Earth_Observation_Programmes. "ALTIUS: Develop and operate a small mission dedicated to the operational monitoring of stratospheric ozone profiles." 
  5. ↑ "ALTIUS - ESA's ozone mission". ESA. https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius. 
  6. ↑ "ALTIUS ozone mission’s satellite platform assembled" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius/ALTIUS_ozone_mission_s_satellite_platform_assembled. 
  7. ↑ "The launch" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius/The_launch. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jewett, Rachel (2022-10-03). "Redwire to Acquire Belgian Firm QinetiQ Space NV" (in en-US). https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2022/10/03/redwire-to-acquire-belgian-firm-qinetiq-space-nv/. 
  9. ↑ Henry, Caleb (27 January 2020). "QinetiQ to build ozone-monitoring satellite for European Space Agency". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/qinetiq-to-build-ozone-monitoring-satellite-for-european-space-agency/. 
  10. ↑ "ALTIUS". http://www.oip.be/en/detail_66.aspx. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Testing ozone-monitoring satellite’s solar wings" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius/Testing_ozone-monitoring_satellite_s_solar_wings. 
  12. ↑ "Contract secures build of ozone-monitoring Altius satellite" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius/Contract_secures_build_of_ozone-monitoring_Altius_satellite. 
  13. ↑ Henry, Caleb (2020-01-27). "QinetiQ to build ozone-monitoring satellite for European Space Agency" (in en-US). SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/qinetiq-to-build-ozone-monitoring-satellite-for-european-space-agency/. 
  14. ↑ "Ride into space on Vega-C secured for FLEX and Altius" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/FLEX/Ride_into_space_on_Vega-C_secured_for_FLEX_and_Altius. 
  15. ↑ "ALTIUS ozone mission’s satellite platform assembled" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius/ALTIUS_ozone_mission_s_satellite_platform_assembled. 




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