TET-1

The TET (technology testbed ) program is a micro- satellite program of the DLR under the OOV program (On Orbit Verification). It is intended to offer the possibility of German industry and research community to verify new technologies in space in order to strengthen the market opportunities of these technologies on the international space market. The plan was originally two satellites, TET -1 with start in 2010 and as an option TET -2 with start of 2011. They are based on the bus system of small satellite BIRD.

The following eleven payloads were selected for TET -1 for testing:

  • Several new types of solar cells
  • A lithium ion battery system
  • An infrared camera for fire observation
  • A semiconductor memory,
  • A dual-frequency navigation system ( GPS / Galileo)
  • A hardware - board computer system
  • A Picosatellitenantrieb
  • An RF data communication system

Prime contractor for phase A (feasibility ) was IABG, especially Nutzlastakkomodation. Phases B and C / D ( Detailed definition / Qualification and Production) were completed by the end of 2010. The satellite was built by a consortium of companies led by Kayser- Threde. The Kayser- Threde was the prime contractor and is responsible for integration of payloads and the development of the payload delivery system. The satellite bus is designed and built by the Astro- and Precision Engineering Adlershof GmbH in cooperation with the DLR. The environmental qualification was conducted in the Space Test Centre IABG.

The launch was to take place in March 2011 as a secondary payload on a Soyuz / Fregat from Baikonur. Due to problems with the two main payloads, the Russian Canopus Volcano and the Belarusian Belka -2 satellite, this was postponed several times. In June 2012, the launch had to be postponed again because between the Russian and Kazakh authorities no agreement on the crash zones of the first rocket stages was found. July 22, 2012 at 06:42 clock ( UTC) the start was ultimately carried out successfully.

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