Kate: Speaks with the Moon
Munich, 22 September 2003
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Astrium technology from Germany on board Smart-1
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Testing of new radio frequencies for flights into deep space
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Europe's lunar probe is to set off in late September
Space flight returns to Moon. When the European Space Agency ESA sends the Smart-1 probe on its journey to the Earth's nearest neighbour in late September, the experimental instrument Kate, built by EADS Astrium in Ottobrunn, near Munich, will also be on board. With Kate (Ka-Band Transponder Experiment), the investigators aim to test new communication frequencies for future scientific missions. In addition, it also allows them to gain further insight into the Moon's interior.
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Reliable and fast communications during journeys into space well beyond the limits of the Earth's atmosphere, i.e. in so-called "Deep Space" missions, are significant factors in measuring the scientific return. Higher transmission rates mean more data. More data mean more science.
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One problem, however, is the long data transmission time to the ground station. For example, the signal from a geo-stationary communications satellite at an altitude of 36,000 km takes about a quarter of a second; while data from the Moon, i.e. a distance of approx. 400,000 km, already takes 2.5 seconds. The signals of future ESA missions, such as those of the Mercury probe BepiColombo, will take about 12 to 20 minutes to reach Earth. Another important factor is the radio frequency used. The X- and Ka-band frequencies used by the EADS Astrium engineers in Smart 1 are considered to be less susceptible to breakdowns.
By means of the Kate instrument, Smart-1 will test communications via ultra-short radio waves (in Ka-band). When developing the combined X/Ka-band Kate transponder, the EADS Astrium engineers used new technologies in the field of integrated chips, digital signal conditioning and housing materials. This is to ensure not only more reliable, but also more efficient communications with spacecraft a long way from Earth.
Kate, however, will play its part in gaining more information about the neighbouring planets and their moons as the Kate experiment also offers the possibility of conducting more precise radio-scientific experiments in its frequency range. The properties of the Moon's interior can be deduced from more knowledge about the Moon's orbit and the signal characteristics received by Kate.
Though, as scientists already have relatively good knowledge of the Moon, few new findings are expected from the Smart-1 mission, but itoffers the opportunity to verify this novel measurement method via Kate. Future missions in our universe will benefit from this. Measurements with Kate technology can be used to deduce of the interior properties of the planets from the signal characteristics of the Ka-band transponder.
EADS Astrium is wholly owned by EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. With an annual turnover of EUR1.2 billion and 7,200 employees in Germany, France, United Kingdom and Spain, EADS Astrium's satellite business activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, navigation and science programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment.
Ottobrunn, September 22, 2003/03022
For further information:
EADS Astrium (FR)
Remi Roland
Tel: +33 (0) 1 3488 3578
remi.roland@astrium.eads.net
EADS Astrium (UK)
Alistair Scott
Tel: +44(0) 1438 77 3698
alistair.scott@astrium.eads.net
EADS Astrium (GER)
Mathias Pikelj
Tel: +49 (0) 7545 8 9123
presse-de@astrium.eads.net
