Celebrating 10 years of Artemis

ESA - Artemis Mission patch.

12 July 2011

ESA’s pioneering Artemis satellite today marks a decade in space. The Advanced Relay and Technology Mission was a breakthrough in telecommunications satellites for Europe, packed with new technologies such as laser links and ion thrusters for proving in space.

A launch problem on 12 July 2001 almost ended the mission before it even began, when the rocket’s upper stage injected Artemis into a low transfer orbit. For any conventional satellite, this would have resulted in the loss of the mission.

Artemis satellite artist's view

But thanks to the combination of the satellite’s advanced technologies and the unique recovery procedures devised by the control team, the satellite was slowly and carefully coaxed over 18 months into its intended operating position.

Dubbed ‘mission impossible’ at the time, and despite damaged onboard equipment, Artemis has demonstrated critical new technologies and continues in operation today.

Artemis testing

Artemis clocked up a number of unique firsts in space during its recovery. It created the first laser data link between satellites in different orbits; it was the first telecommunications satellite to be extensively reprogrammed in orbit; it was the first to use ion propulsion to reach geostationary orbit, 36 000 km up, after surviving the longest-ever drift to its destination.

Artemis ion thruster

Thanks to the laser relay, Earth images collected by ESA’s Envisat 35 000 km below Artemis were delivered to customers almost in real time at a high rate.

The first MERIS image obtained via Artemis

The same service was provided to France’s SPOT-4 observation satellite together with a second link via another experimental payload, this time at radio frequencies.

 Artemis and SPOT 4

Artemis also provided communications between ground controllers and Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicles as the cargo ferries flew to the International Space Station.

In 2008, Artemis leapt into service at short notice during the ferry’s first mission when NASA’s system was shut down as Hurricane Ike struck the country.

The ATV team in Toulouse, France, and their Artemis counterparts in Redu, Belgium, sprang into action. With only a few hours to prepare, they held contact with the vessel throughout the night of 11 September.

ESA's Redu station in Belgium

While Artemis is controlled via Telespazio facilities in Fucino, Italy, ESA’s Redu centre houses its Mission Control Facility to schedule the services for users and to maintain the different payloads.

“Artemis has delivered tremendous service availability over its entire operational life at full satisfaction of final users,” says Daniele Galardini, Head of ESA Redu Centre and in charge of Artemis.

“The capability and professionalism of the teams in Fucino and Redu are the basis of the Artemis achievements.”

Related links:

Telecommunications and Integrated Applications: http://telecom.esa.int/telecom/www/language/index.cfm?flanguageid=5

What is special about Artemis: http://www.esa.int/esaTE/ESAZGGPZ9NC_index_0.html

Artemis finally reaches operational orbit: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMQEK1A6BD_index_0.html

Artemis team receives award for space rescue: http://www.esa.int/esaTE/SEM1LT0P4HD_index_0.html

Artemis relays first images for Envisat: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM29Q2A6BD_index_0.html

Communicating with the world: http://www.esa.int/esaTE/ESA0UFPZ9NC_index_0.html

Another world first for Artemis: a laser link with an aircraft: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMN6HQJNVE_index_0.html

Artemis provides communications for Jules Verne ATV: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM6BOM5NDF_index_0.html

Artemis: http://telecom.esa.int/telecom/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=26

Redu: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM2RDSMTWE_0.html

Envisat: http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMWYN2VQUD_index_0_m.html

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV): http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ATV/index.html

Images, Text, Credits: ESA / J.Huart / DASA.

Cheers, Orbiter.ch