- SMOS carries the most complex space instrument ever
made in Spain for ESA
- Astrium in Spain, has led the construction of this
innovative instrument which will observe the Earth’s water cycle
The
MIRAS instrument represents a significant technological challenge as
it uses innovative measurement techniques never before deployed in space. Until
now it had not been possible to measure soil moisture and ocean salinity from
space, even though the concept was first suggested 40 years ago. SMOS has been
described by ESA as a “technological revolution” and “historic milestone” in
Earth observation, as in order to carry out this mission with classic
radiometry, an antenna ten metres wide would be needed, which is impossible to
fit in any launcher.
MIRAS
has three "arms" in a ‘Y’ configuration, as well as a central support
structure. With the arms deployed, it has a span of 8 metres in
diameter and a mass of 360
kilograms. It also carries 69 small antenna
receptors situated along the three arms and the central structure. With these
receptors, SMOS possesses a field of view of 1,000 kilometres and will capture
up to 80 different measurements. In total, it will orbit the
planet 15 times a day and will supply a complete map of all the Earth’s surface
every three days with a resolution of 50 kilometres
per pixel, at a depth of one centimetre. The bus of the instrument is the
Proteus platform, supplied by Thales Alenia Space in France.
The satellite will have a service life of three years with a possibility to
extend its mission for an additional two years.
These two
parameters, soil moisture and ocean salinity, are of key scientific interest in
creating a better understanding of the Earth’s water cycle and ultimately
climate change. For example, salinity has a direct influence on the circulation
of ocean currents, which provoke phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña, causing
flooding and droughts. The evaporation and infiltration of the water in land
masses depends on the degree of moisture in the soil and the vegetation water
content, key aspects to understanding the hydrological cycle and the monitoring
of the fresh water reserves of the planet. Therefore, the benefits derived from
this type of mission are numerous with a better understanding of the water cycle
allowing for advances to be made in meteorology, climatology, oceanography,
risk management, agriculture hydrology, marine resources and urban development.
The
SMOS programme has also contributed towards a more competitive space industry
in Spain,
increasing the country’s capability in leading space programmes. SMOS has been
a catalyst for Spain’s
technological capacity, since it is the first time, through Astrium, that the
country has lead the development of an instrument on behalf of ESA.
For
Spain,
the SMOS programme has been of huge strategic importance because it has opened
the door to leading new programmes, such as a second radiometer being developed
for ESA’s Sentinel-3 satellite. Today, due to the company’s work on the SMOS
programme, Astrium is also leading the two Spanish Earth observation
satellites: PAZ and INGENIO. Finally, and depending on the results obtained
through the SMOS data, an operational SMOS might be developed for Eumetsat in
the near future.
Astrium
Spain
signed the €61 million SMOS contract to become the prime contractor of the
payload in June 2004. SMOS, after GOCE is the second Earth Explorer mission in
space. Next to come is Cryosat-2, also led by Astrium.
Astrium Spain is a holding formed by the two Spanish space
companies of Astrium: EADS CASA Espacio and Astrium CRISA.
Astrium, a
wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence
space systems and services. In 2008, Astrium had a turnover of €4.3 billion and
more than 15,000 employees in France,
Germany,
the United Kingdom,
Spain
and the Netherlands.
Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers
and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground
segment and Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.
EADS
is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008,
EADS generated revenues of €43.3 billion and employed a workforce of more
than 118,000.
Press contacts:
Daniel
Mosely (Astrium UK) Tel.:
+44 (0)1 438 77 8180
Matthieu Duvelleroy (Astrium FR) Tel.:
+33 (0) 1 77 75 80 32
Ralph Heinrich (Astrium GER) Tel.: +49 (0) 89 607 33971
Francisco Lechón (Astrium SP) Tel.:
+34 91 586 37 41
