The World's Largest Antenna Measuring Range: Astrium and EurasSpace Deliver Compact Range to China
Beijing/, 21 March 2003
The European space company Astrium and its subsidiary “EurasSpace – Gesellschaft für Raumfahrttechnik mbH“ (Munich) will deliver the world’s largest antenna measuring range to China. The respective delivery contract has now been signed by representatives of Astrium, EurasSpace and the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) in Beijing. “I am pleased that we could attain such export success on the Asian market in such difficult times for the space business,” stated Dr. Gerhard Wischmann, managing director of Astrium after the signing ceremony.
The system, worth approximately twelve million euros, is to start operation by the end of 2005. As the prime contractor, EurasSpace is responsible for turn-key system delivery. The “range” will be built by the European space company Astrium in Ottobrunn.
In addition to the delivery of the reflector system, the contract also covers the absorbing panelling of the measuring chamber walls, the multi-axis turntable system for the positioning of the test object, as well as the microwave measuring instruments and the respective control software.
The antenna measuring range simulates the geostationary satellites’ distance of 36,000 kilometres from Earth in a 30-metre-long measuring chamber. Two high-precision reflector mirrors convert the electromagnetic radiation field of a satellite antenna so that it conforms with the radiation of an antenna from the geostationary orbit. The spectacular feature of the obtained order is the unprecedented system size with reflector dimensions of up to twelve metres in width and ten metres in height. The reflectors consist of three to four steel segments each weighing 30 tonnes; they will be cast by two renowned German companies and precision-milled with a surface accuracy of less than 35 thousandths of a millimetre over the complete reflector surface. Thus, this system type enables measurements at the largest and most demanding antennas of modern telecommunication satellites in a frequency range from 1.0 to 100 GHz.
Such “compact ranges“ are amongst the best-selling export items of the Astrium company in Ottobrunn. The Astrium antenna experts have been active in this business since 1985 and have sold more than one dozen of such antenna measuring ranges world-wide.
EurasSpace was set up in 1994. It is a 50:50 joint venture of Astrium and the China Aerospace Corporation (CASC). In 1998, EurasSpace delivered Sinosat-1, the first turn-key Chinese communications satellite built in Europe for the Beijing-based operator company Sinosatcom.
Astrium will be owned at 100% by EADS, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. In 2001 Astrium had a turnover of 1.9 billion Euros with 8 400 employees in France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain. Astrium is currently focusing on its satellite business activities covering civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation, science and navigation programmes, avionics and equipments.
Ottobrunn, March 21, 2003/03006
For further information:
Astrium GmbH
Mathias Pikelj
Telefon: 07545 - 8 - 9123
Telefax: 07545 – 8 – 5589
E-mail: presse-de@astrium-space.com
Internet: www.astrium-space.com
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