Satellites’ Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT)
ALTEN capitalises on more than 20 years of know-how in preparations for the assembly, validation tests and final integration (before launch) of various satellites for CNES and other industrial customers.
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Satellites contain extremely costly electronic equipment (sometimes in excess of 1 million euros ) with lengthy manufacturing times. Integrating these sub-systems on the satellite platform requires precision and preparation. By relying on multi-disciplinary teams of engineers (space systems architecture, electricity/electronics, real-time systems, radio frequency, optical engineering, mechanical engineering, thermal engineering, etc.), ALTEN’s responsibility is to:
- Prepare the satellite’s integration: define the integration procedures for operators
- Check that sub-systems are operational (power supply, radio communications, onboard management, orbit or altitude control, optical instruments, mechanical structure, etc.)
- Check that the satellite is operational after assembly (environmental trials in space or launch conditions: extreme temperatures, near-vacuum pressure, vibrations and electromagnetic compatibility).
ALTEN’s engineers work in cleanroom (ISO8 & ISO5 classes) as well as on launch sites (Kourou, Baikonur, Jiuquan, etc.), on different types of satellite projects in a variety of fields: research (such as TARANIS, the study of transient luminous events – TLE – and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes), Franco-Chinese cooperation (CFOSAT, the study of wind and waves on the ocean surface) and the constellation of 600 telecommunications mini-satellites (ONEWEB).