2009 IS THE YEAR OF THE SPACE CONQUEST FOR MICROCERTEC
Last February, SPIRALE (early warning infrared system demonstrator) that was developed by EADS Astrium for the French Armament Procurement Agency (DGA) was placed into orbit by an Ariane V launcher (http://www.astrium.eads.net/node.php?articleid=267). This paves the way for the future space-based missile shooting early warning system. SPIRALE consists of two micro-satellites equipped with infrared cameras in which ceramic components manufactured by Microcertec are integrated.
On 17 March 2009, Microcertec “went” into Space onboard the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/GOCE/SEMH3NITYRF_0.html). GOCE is the first Earth Explorer Core Mission under ESA’s living Planet Program initiated in 1999 and it is aimed at studying our planet and its environment in order to enhance our knowledge and understanding of Earth-system processes and their evolution, to enable us to address the challenges of global climate change (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/ASERBVNW9SC_index_0.html). The satellite developed by an industrial team led by Thales Alenia Space has a key instrument onboard for the success of the mission – an Electrostatic Gravity Gradiometer. This instrument consists of six highly-sensitive accelerometers designed and manufactured by the Physics Measurement Department of French Aerospace Lab (ONERA –DMPH) (http://www.onera.fr/onera-business/space.php) that rely on silica electrode carriers machined by ultrasonic techniques to a few-micron-precision by Microcertec. This first successful supply of so critical components is the fruit of the partnership established with ONERA in 2002. It allows Microcertec to strengthen its position as preferred partner and it will be followed by the manufacturing of new types of components to be used for the MICROSCOPE mission due for launch in 2013 (http://smsc.cnes.fr/MICROSCOPE/index.htm).
In the coming years, Microcertec will also take part in two more ESA missions still under the living Planet Program. First, Microcertec will contribute to the SENTINEL 3 mission - the first satellite of two is expected to be launched in 2012 (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMTST4KXMF_LPgmes_0.html) – in supplying high-precision silica components to the French company EADS SODERN who will manufacture the optical devices for the imaging spectrometer instrument Ocean Land Colour Instrument (OLCI). Then, Microcertec will “be onboard” the satellite for the joint European -Japanese EARTHCARE mission managed by ESA the launch of which is planned in 2013 and dedicated to clouds exploration. The company has been involved in this programme in grinding ceramic packages to high-specification flatness level on behalf of e2v Technologies in the U.K that will supply optical sensors mounted on the ATLID LIDAR - Light Detection and Ranging. (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/ASESMYNW9SC_LPearthcare_0.html)
Microcertec has become over the last few years on the back of its technical expertise and such unique production processes as ultrasonic machining a key supplier of ceramic or silica components for airborne equipment used in Space programs, either civilian or military.