Picard (satellite)

Picard is the name of a French solar research satellite of the CNES, which brought on a Dnepr -1 rocket on 15 June 2010 at 12:42:16 UTC clock from the Baikonur Jasny out together with the Swedish pair of satellites Mango and Tango in a sun-synchronous orbit.

History

The planning for the construction of microsatellite began in February 2000. In December 2004, the project was officially approved and the development and subsequent testing of the satellite began. Beginning of 2009, completed the development and testing work, and completed in December 2009, the satellite. The satellite is named after Jean Picard (1620-1682), which was the first certain the exact diameter of the sun. The satellite is expected to simultaneously measure the absolute total and spectral irradiance of the sun, diameter, shape and examine the inside of the sun through helioseismologische methods. The measurements of the time duration of the entire mission to allow to record the variation in function of the solar type.

Technology

The satellite is based on the satellite bus for microsatellite myriad. The stabilization is carried out by star sensors, sun sensors, a magnetometer, gyroscope, and various magnetic wheels and reaction wheels, whereby alignment accuracy is achieved by 36 seconds of arc. The scientific payload (developed by Laboratoire Atmospheres, Milieux, Observation Spatiales ( LATMOS ), the Swiss Space Office, and others) PICARD consists of an imaging telescope, two differential radiometers and three photometers:

• SOVAP ( SOlar Variability PICARD ): consisting of a differential absolute radiometer and a bolometric sensor for measuring the overall solar radiation,
• PREMOS ( PREcision MOnitor sensor ): a set of three photometers to study the ozone formation and degradation as well as to helioseismologischen observations and a differential absolute radiometer for measuring the overall solar radiation.
• SODISM ( SOlar Diameter Imager and Surface Mapper ): an imaging telescope with CCD sensor for the measurement of the solar diameter and its shape with an accuracy of a few thousandths of seconds of arc, and to helioseismologischen observations.
• PGCU ( PICARD Gestion Charge Utile )

The telemetry data amount to 6 Gb per day, which are secured with a memory of 8 Gb on board. The lifetime of the satellite over 2 years can be expected.