Axon' links on board a sentinel

The initial tests have been completed on the radar on-board this earth observation satellite Sentinel-1a from the European Space Agency. It was launched on April 3rd by the Soyuz launcher from the spaceport in Kourou. The role of Sentinel-1a is to detect changes in the ice-thickness in the Arctic, water pollution, plus study the earth’s surface and assist the emergency services during any natural disasters. The radar manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space is the basic element of the mission, and Axon’ Cable has been chosen for the on-board interconnect. Small and compact Axon’ cable assemblies are backplane connections of the Integrated Central Electronics (ICE) equipment located within the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on board the satellite. The technical challenge was dimensional: it consists in having several stacked connectors in a very confined area (37 mm high!). To meet this challenge, Axon’ manufactured and supplied the harnesses on jigs to confirm the dimension of these harnesses. Axon’ also supplied high speed data cable assemblies for the Laser Communication Terminal (LCT). Sentinels of the Earth Sentinel-1a is the first satellite of the Sentinel spacecraft missions. The European Union and ESA (European Space Agency) are both involved in this environmental programme. Five other missions will follow between now and 2019. Collected data will be used for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES). These missions will collect a huge quantity of data about the blue planet. It will be a real sustainable network which will monitor vegetation, the ground, the atmosphere and the oceans. Axon’ is already involved in projects for Sentinels 2 and 3.

For more information on Axon' links on board a sentinel talk to Axon Cable Ltd