Constell'Actions October 2023

Home > Newsletter > Constell'Actions October 2023

Constell'Actions n°3

October 2023

SUMMARY

KINÉIS CONSTELL’ ACTIONS

Kinéis Constell'Actions is the monthly newsletter dedicated to progress on the design and deployment of the Kinéis connectivity system for the Internet of Things (IoT). The autumn of 2023 is a busy one for our Proto-Flight Model, which is undergoing mechanical testing under launch conditions. The first of these launches is scheduled for spring 2024 in New Zealand, and will launch the 25 nanosatellites in our constellation into orbit. Our teams, partners and service providers are working hard to ensure the success of the Kinéis human and space adventure. Welcome aboard and enjoy your reading!

THE PROTO-FLIGHT MODEL STANDS UP

TO THE SHOCK OF VIBRATIONS!

The Kinéis and Hemeria teams (in charge of development, platform manufacturing and satellite integration) carried out TVAC (Thermal VACuum) tests on the first satellite, called Proto-Flight Model (PFM), at Thales Alenia Space (TAS) in Toulouse. The aim of these tests was to validate the satellite's functions and performance under environmental conditions as close as possible to those encountered in orbit (space vacuum, extreme temperatures).

©Kinéis_Thierry de Prada 2023

Teams from Kinéis and Hemeria (responsible for the development, manufacture and integration of the satellite platform) carried out five days of vibration tests on the Proto-Flight Model (PFM) at Mecano ID in Toulouse.

The aim of these tests was to validate the satellite's behavior under the mechanical (vibratory) environmental conditions it will be subjected to on launch day.

The engineers worked on 3 satellite qualification objectives:

- Check the mechanical strength of the satellite structure,

- Verify that the deployable elements (solar generator and antennas) remain in place during vibrations,

- Check that there are no post-vibration defects, and that the satellite's functionality and performance are still correct and have not been degraded.

The results obtained after this major stage in the satellite's development are very positive. The satellite performed perfectly well, with no structural faults or failure of the deployable elements. The final tests carried out at the end of the environmental tests demonstrated that the satellite's functionality and performance had been maintained in relation to the initial tests carried out at the start of the sequence.

SUCCESSFUL SOLAR PANEL DEPLOYMENT

FOR PROTO-FLIGHT MODEL

©Kinéis_Thierry de Prada 2023

Following the vibration tests, the solar panels (GS) of the Proto-Flight Model were deployed, again at Hemeria, to ensure that the satellite was functionally capable of carrying out this operation. These tests went without a hitch. During launches, satellites will deploy their panels a few minutes after separation from the launcher.

Back to summary

THE GROUND SEGMENT INCLUDES A NEW GROUND STATION (GRS) DEPLOYED FOR THE KINEIS SYSTEM

Canada welcomes a new Kinéis ground station (GRS) to its territory! After Inuvik, near the Arctic Circle, in 2022, Kinéis teams installed 2 antennas with their radomes on the site of Canadian satellite TV operator GulfCom in Toronto in September. Everything went according to plan during the 10-day installation and testing phase, in the mild Indian summer. The two antennas are now operational and count among the 11 Kinéis system GRS sites worldwide.

Next stop in November: Chile

Watch the vidéo of the GRS installation in Toronto

Back to summary

PREPARATION FOR TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION TESTS OF THE SATELLITE SEPARATION SEQUENCE WITH THE

The aim of the tests is to carry out operations from launch vehicle separation (LEOP)¹ to a technically stable satellite configuration, including deployment of all appendages (solar panels and antennas).

They will take place at the Kinéis Control Center at CNES, in a Technical Qualification (TQ) context. Operational schedules are adapted to actual launch conditions (day and night). All on-board/ground operations will be carried out.

These tests initiate a series of system tests that will determine the next stage of operations.

Next step: routine QT tests

(1) LEOP (Launch Early Operations Phase): the delicate sequence from satellite separation from the launcher to stabilization in orbit, lasting around 48 hours.

Back to summary