EADS Astrium has chosen Arianespace to launch the two micro-satellites of the Spirale demonstrator for a spaceborne optical early warning system.
The two Spirale satellites will be injected into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 launched from the Guiana Space Center. They will be carried as auxiliary passengers on an Ariane 5 mission in 2008, using the ASAP 5 structure.
EADS Astrium is the prime contractor for the Spirale demonstration program, acting on behalf of French defense procurement agency DGA. It will involve the construction of two micro satellites of about 130-kg each, using the Myriade platform developed by CNES.
The Spirale demonstrator is designed to collect and analyze images in the infrared band against a land background, in order to detect ballistic missiles during their boost phase. The Spirale program heralds a future early warning system, that will be a strategic component in a ballistic missile defense system.
A few days after the successful launch of Syracuse 3A, Arianespace, which has already launched the Essaim microsats with the Helios 2A satellite for the DGA, is continuing its collaboration with the defense industry by supporting the in-orbit validation of innovative satellite system concepts.
It is the second time this year that EADS Astrium has chosen Arianespace to launch a military satellite after the selection of Ariane 5 for the British Ministry of Defense’s Skynet 5A and Skynet 5B military communications satellites.
