A more complete study of the Solar System
The specifications of this satellite include an 11-metre diameter parasol which unfolds after being put into orbit, giving thermal stability in a passive way to the telescope. SENER is developing this parasol, along with its mechanisms, structure and thermal shield, in conjunction with Astrium GMBH, which is sub-contractor for a number of thermal elements. The project involves the construction of a demonstration model with which a study of the different alternatives can be carried out and the final chosen concept can be validated. During the controlled take-off, special attention will be paid to the thermal blankets, which have to be folded up at this lift-off stage, as well as to their influence on the capacity to thermally insulate the GAIA payload. A demonstration model will also be built which will test the carrying out of the project objectives. New contract,SENER has recently won a new contract for the development of technologies for this mission. This involves a fine positioning mechanism of the telescopes secondary mirror. The mechanism has to work as low temperatures (-130º C) and over a limited number of cycles. The technological challenge lies in the fact that the positioning of the mirror has to be carried out in five degrees (three linear movements and two rotations) while maintaining settings of tenths of a micro. Although there are mechanisms, which can carry out this task at ambient temperature, there is none as yet developed that can operate at such low temperatures. The GAIA mission,The GAIA mission, to be launched in 2010, will examine more than a billion stars, including many of those found close to the Sun. The aim of the mission is to draw up the largest and the most precise map ever of our galaxy, a study that is crucial in order to get to know the Milky Way better. During the mapping process, GAIA will discover the movement of each star in its orbit around the centre of the Galaxy, which will enable astronomers to see back in time, to when the Galaxy was just beginning to take shape.
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