This week, we’ve been busy starting Sentinel-1’s battery tests. This involves the fairly lengthy process of testing that the batteries charge properly as they would do in space from the satellite’s solar arrays and then release the energy to the satellite as needed.
So, starting Monday afternoon the batteries were put on charge and by around midnight they were fully loaded. The team then continued to see that they released their energy accordingly – but this takes some time.
Working on the multilayer insulation. (ESA–B v/d Elst)
In parallel, the last pieces of multilayer insulation – or MLI – have been placed on the body of the satellite to cover the small gaps that had been left open to give access to the craft during testing.The MLI is very important because it keeps the satellite at an ambient temperature by protecting it from the fierce heat of the Sun and the cold temperature of space as orbits Earth.
Oh, and a non-work related event – last Saturday, the whole team was invited to dinner and everybody welcomed this well-deserved break after weeks of hard work.
Marking international women’s day! (ESA–B v/d Elst)
During this dinner, the team took the opportunity to celebrate international women’s day, and a special thanks was given to all the women involved in the Sentinel-1A launch campaign!
Post from ESA’s Sentinel-1A launch campaign team, French Guiana, 12 March 2014
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