Hisdesat and Astrium to establish a Radar Satellite Constellation to improve Coverage and Access

24/04/2012

Hisdesat and Astrium to establish a Radar Satellite Constellation to improve Coverage and Access

Hisdesat and Astrium to establish a Radar Satellite Constellation to improve Coverage and Access

24/04/2012

  • Astrium and Hisdesat have signed a framework agreement to establish a constellation approach for TerraSAR-X and PAZ radar satellites.
  • Improved revisit and acquisition capabilities will enhance services levels offered to customers and partners.
  • A wide range of time-critical and data-intensive applications will benefit from this constellation approach.

Madrid, April 24th, 2012.- Hisdesat, the Spanish government satellite service operator, and  Astrium GEO-Information Services German part, Infoterra GmbH, have signed a framework agreement about a joint technology development project with the aim to establish a constellation approach for the radar satellites TerraSAR-X and PAZ.

The German satellite TerraSAR-X, launched in 2007, reliably delivers high-resolution radar data for versatile applications to worldwide customers. PAZ is the first Spanish radar satellite designed as a dual use (military and civilian) to meet operational requirements in the field of high resolution (up to 1 meter) observation. PAZ is scheduled for launch in 2013 into a polar orbit, which will be specifically optimised to improve the time to get images over key areas of interest when combining TerraSAR-X and PAZ into a constellation.

Operating these two virtually identical satellites in a constellation will afford Astrium and Hisdesat with a more flexible capacity management of their systems. The company’s customers and partners will benefit from enhanced performance and service levels thanks to improved revisit time, service reliability and increased data acquisition capabilities.

The constellation approach will also provide improved system redundancy and back-up for both satellites in case of maintenance phases.

A wide range of time-critical and data-intensive applications will benefit from this constellation approach, such as precise monitoring and faster detection of surface movement activities:

  • Defence and security: reduced lead times and a reliable, faster coverage of critical areas of interest and hot spots will facilitate improved support to operational missions worldwide.
  • Surface movement monitoring: engineering and mining companies will be able to efficiently monitor and manage their operations and reduce risks to workers on the ground.
  • Maritime surveillance: applications such as ship detection, oil pollution monitoring and sea ice observation will benefit from improved revisit times and increased data acquisition capabilities.
  • Humanitarian organisations and crisis intervention: faster and assured access to data over the affected areas supporting the efficient coordination and management of rescue and relief activities.

About PAZ

The PAZ (Spanish for “peace”) satellite will be launched in 2013 into the same orbit as TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X. PAZ is a dual use mission designed to meet operational requirements, mainly of a defense and security nature but also with civil applications in the field of high resolution observation.

The satellite structure is based on TerraSAR-X satellite and was integrated by Astrium’s Friedrichshafen site in Germany, with the radar instrument being developed and integrated at EADS CASA Espacio Barajas site. PAZ will be owned and operated by Hisdesat, who also holds the commercial exploitation rights for the mission. INTA (Spanish Aerospace Technology Institute) is commissioned to develop the satellites ground segment.

PAZ is the first Spanish radar satellite developed and implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism as part of the National Earth Observation Programme (PNOT).

About TerraSAR-X

The TerraSAR-X Earth observation satellite is a joint venture carried out under a public-private-partnership between the German Aerospace Center DLR and EADS Astrium GmbH.

At DLR, a team of four institutes is responsible for implementing the mission in collaboration with the space agency. EADS Astrium GmbH developed, built and launched the satellite; the exclusive commercial exploitation rights are held by the geo-information service provider Infoterra GmbH, an Astrium subsidiary.

TerraSAR-X was launched in mid 2007 and has been in operational service since January 2008. As of June 2010, its “twin” TanDEM-X has joined it in orbit. Together, the two satellites are collecting data for a global elevation model.

About Hisdesat

Hisdesat was founded in 2001 as operator of government services by satellite to act primarily in the areas of defense, security, intelligence and foreign affairs. Since 2005, the company provides secure satellite communications to government agencies of different countries and is currently developing new satellites in two areas: Earth Observation and Information of the worldwide maritime traffic by satellite (AIS). More information: www.hisdesat.es

For further information:

Hisdesat

Araceli Serrano

PR Communications Manager

Tel: +34 91 4490149

aserrano@hisdesat.es