PLEIADES
Among the programmes that SENER has carried out in this field, the shutter mechanisms for the high-resolution instruments of the PLEIADES programme stand out. This programme has two Earth observation satellites and is led by CNES, with EADS Astrium as the main contractor, supplying the satellite bus, and with THALES ALENIA SPACE in charge of the high-resolution instrument. The instrument incorporates a shutter mechanism that opens and closes the diaphragm located at the output of the telescope, which stops the sun from blinding and overheating the sensitive detection equipment in the event of an emergency.
SENER participates as a subcontractor of THALES ALENIA SPACE FRANCE in the supply of this mechanism. The design phase of the shutter mechanism began in 2004 and was completed in mid 2005. Since then, all the system components have been procured and manufactured, also assembling them and conducting a thorough test campaign, which has included electrical tests, functional tests at different temperatures, vibration and thermal cycling tests and a life test. After proving its compliance with the technical specification requirements, one of the flight models was delivered in September 2006 and the second and last flight model will be delivered shortly.
