Friday, January 09, 2009

SPIRALE

IOC: 2008
Total Production: 2
Total Program's Cost: USD$156 million

Unitary Cost: USD$78 million

Origin
France

Contractor/s
Alcatel-Lucent
EADS

Description: The SPIRALE is an Infrared spaced-based warning system demonstrator aimed to provide early warning against ballistic missiles in their boost phase. Two micro-satellites carrying SPIRALE payload (advanced infrared sensors) should be put into an elliptical orbit by Ariane 5 launcher in 2008.

The Spirale ground segment will consists of an S-band ground station for command tasks, X-band station that will receive data from both micro-satellites, the control center and mission control center. In addition, the French CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales or National Center for Space Research) will measure micro-satellites in-orbit position.

The Spirale demonstrators will be built using affordable and proven technology from commercial communications satellites but featuring a limited in orbit propulsion system.

Eventually, France could deploy a larger SPIRALE space-based warning network beyond 2008 leveraging knowledge and experience gained with the demonstrator program.

EADS Astrium SAS was awarded a €124 million contract for development and demonstration of SPIRALE demonstrator in January 2004.

Specifications
Weights: Max Weight 120 kg (265 lb)

Performance: Orbit 36,000 km (19,438 nm)

News
France to Study Space-Based Ballistic Missile Warning System Feasibility

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, December 20, 2008

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