PERFECTIONNEMENTS AUX SATELLITES D'OBSERVATION OU DE TELECOMMUNICATION

摘要

A low-orbiting radar observation or telecommunication satellite comprising an element with one or more antennas lying in a plane passing through the centre of the Earth, e.g. the orbital plane. The antennas operate on one or both sides of the element (11). The height of the antenna element (11) is greater than its dimension in the forward direction of the satellite, such that said satellite is naturally stabilised by a gravity gradient. The cells of the solar generator (13) are supported on the surface of the antenna element (11) that continuously faces the sun in the case of a sun-synchronous orbit at a local time of 0600 hours/1800 hours. The antenna element (11) consists of a plurality of pivotable panels (14) over which means are distributed for affecting the phase of the received or transmitted wave, and comprises a plurality of GPS sensors (15) distributed over said panels (14) to enable phase shifters to measure then compensate for the deflection of said element. At the time of launch, the panels are folded into a cylindrical shell extending along the launcher axis and have a pyrotechnic door enabling the panels to be deployed. In orbit, the shell forms the logistics module incorporating all of the components apart from the panels.