Friday, November 21, 2008

Helios

IOC: 1995
Total Production: 4
Total Program's Cost: USD$4.9 billion

Helios II

IOC: 2005
Production: 2
Unitary Cost: USD$1.4 billion

Origin
France

Contractor/s
EADS Astrium

Family Members
Helios

Description: The Helios II is an improved variant of Helios earth observation satellite with enhanced electro-optical sensors and capability for operation in adverse weather conditions, day/night. Its earth observation package includes a medium resolution Spot 5 sensor for wide area optical and near infrared frequencies observation, and a high resolution HRS infrared sensor.

Helios II will provide higher resolution, observation of wider areas, pinpoint accuracy for surveillance of specific locations, night operation mode, increased availability for its customer, and faster data transfer over Helios I satellites.

Initially, the Helios II project was funded by France but in July 2001 Belgium joined this project with approximately 2.5% of the total cost slated for €2280 million (+$2.8 billion). In November 2001, Spain joined the Helios II investing €57 million (2.5%) .

The first Helios II satellite, Helios IIA, was launched in December 2004 and the second one, Helios IIB, was slated for launch in 2008. As planned, Helios 2A was launched by an Ariane 5G space launch system on December 18, 2004 from Kourou Space Station in the French Guiana.

The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) cleared Helios II for operational use by the three countries participating the program on April 7, 2005. This decision follows three extensive months of testing after the launch of Helios 2A late in 2004.

Specifications
Performance: Orbit 700 km (378 nm), Service Life 5 yr

News
France Clears Helios 2 for Operational Use

Operators

see operators map | see family operators map

Belgium

France / 2

Spain

Spacecraft

Helios IIB / Unknown

Launch Vehicle: Undisclosed - Space Launch Systems
Launch Site: Undisclosed Site

Helios IIA

Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5
Launch Site: Kourou
Launch Date: Saturday, December 18, 2004

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Leave Feedback >>