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Wolfgang Pitz succeeds Bernhard Doll as SpaceTech CEO

[27-06-2016]

SpaceTech is pleased to announce that, effective from 1st of July 2016, Wolfgang Pitz will be CEO, succeeding Bernhard Doll, founder and CEO of SpaceTech GmbH since 2004, leading the company growth from 2 to about 90 employees in 2016.

Bernhard Doll remains in the Board of Directors, reducing his worktime to 80 %, ensuring a smooth transition over the next years.

We are looking forward to a continuation to our successful partnerships with all existing and new customers, always providing the best value for money, focussing on the essentials necessary for timely delivery and reliable in-orbit operation.

BD FG WP 1

(From left to right:) Wolfgang Pitz (CEO), Frank Gilles, Bernhard Doll

 

 

SpaceTech selected for delivery of JUICE RIME Antenna

[23-05-2016]

2016 05 23 JUICE RIME

[image from esa.int]

On May 12, 2016, SpaceTech and Airbus have reached an agreement on the contract for the RIME Antenna delivery for the ESA science mission JUICE (RIME = Radar for Icy Moon Exploration; JUICE = Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer). The STI proposal stands out for the smart and light-weight technical solution and its cost-benefit ratio. The proposal features a deployable antenna design, made of CFRP, with a total of 6 hinges and a total length of 16 meters.

JUICE will be launched in 2022 and reach Jupiter after one Venus swing-by-manoeuvre and multiple Earth swing-by-manoeuvres. Eventually, it will explore Jupiter’s moons Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The RIME payload is a radar instrument which allows for analysis deep below of a moon’s icy surface up to depths of 9 km. Scientists are expecting to gain pioneering insights to the geological and geo-physical structure of Jupiter’s moons.

2016 05 23 JUICE RIME Antenna Proposal

Solar Array and CESS for Jason-CS

[28-04-2016]

2016 04 28 SolarGenerator and CESS for JasonCS Satellite

[image from cnes.fr]

SpaceTech GmbH was selected to design and manufacture the Solar Array for Jason-CS, as subcontractor to Airbus DS. The project kick-off was in February 2016.

In addition, STI will provide a set of CESS (Coarse Earth & Sun Sensor - a safe mode sensor) for the mission.

The Jason-CS Mission is part of the Copernicus Space Component and is developed by ESA under the GMES Space Component Segment 3 (GSC-3) programme. The main objective of the Jason-CS\Sentinel 6 Mission is to provide a long-term availability of high precision ocean surface topography observations in supportof Copernicus services. The launch for the two spacecraft is planned for 2020.

Successful PDR of Euclid Sunshield

[8. Jan 2016]

2014 12 02 EuclidSunShield

[Image from euclid-ec.org]

On November 19th 2015 the project Euclid Sunshield has successfully passed the preliminary design review.

Euclid is an ESA space mission with the goal to give answers to the expansion of the Universe and to the origin of Dark Energy. STI signs responsible for the Euclid sunshield, consisting of the solar array and sunshield for the telescope. Besides the power generation and the thermal isolation of the optical instrument, the reduction of scatter light entering the telescope by at least ten orders of magnitude is crucial for the overall mission performance.

 

 

High stability Laser development for NGGM continues

[8. Jan 2016]

CavityEBB Fiber AmplifierEBB

Left: Optical cavity, Right: Fiber power amplifier [Pictures: NPL/ILT]

The Consortium of SpaceTech, Fraunhofer ILT, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and Airbus DS has been selected for the development for the high stability laser (HSL) for a potential 'Next Generation Gravity Mission' (NGGM). This development continues the successful development and testing of the HSL Elegant breadboard performed of the same consortium from 2012-2015 within the frame of ESA TRP.

The HSL is a modular, fibre-based laser system emitting light with a high stability of laser frequency and output power. The objective of this new activity is to raise the maturity of the laser system to TRL 5 on subunit level and TRL 7 on component level.

SpaceTech as prime contractors signs responsible for project management, system engineering, electrical, structural and thermal design. Fraunhofer ILT is responsible for the laser head and the environmental test campaign of laser head components. The National Physical Laboratory is responsible for the reference cavity. Airbus DS performs the environmental test campaign of the laser system.

 

 

  1. Your opportunity: Open Positions at SpaceTech
  2. Wolfgang Pitz joins SpaceTech's Board of Directors
  3. SpaceTech confirmed as largest German SME in space sector
  4. Contract for Development of MERLIN Frequency Reference Unit