Scientific satellites
The desire to explore and discover the world has been driving human beings for thousands of years. However, only space technology has been able to solve the unsolved questions about the earth and about outer space. Specially equipped scientific satellites are used for this purpose. Their instrumentation enables them to focus on the specified research function.
These satellites are also divided into different classes. Some of them are also designated as space probes:
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Satellites for planetary observation
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Space probes for researching into solar processes
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Astronomical satellites
The first scientific satellites of EADS predecessor companies were Heos and Azur for measuring radiation and the Franco-German Dial aeronomy satellite.
The Helios probes represented an important milestone in solar research. For the first time, a research probe approached to within 50 million kilometres of the sun.
The Exosat X-ray represented an important advance in astronomical research. It has been searching the universe for X-rays and marks the beginning of a fleet of explorer satellites, including Rosat and XMM.
The comet probes Giotto and Rosetta are an important milestone in the search for primordial material. Giotto succeeded in approaching a comet – 600 kilometres from the core – and the scientists “captured” an array of sensational photographs as well as obtaining new scientific information about the structure of the comet. A landing craft is also scheduled to descend with Rosetta to the surface of a comet for the first time and search the surface for primordial material.
The reusable research platforms Crista Spas and Orfeus Spas are an innovation. They have been used a number of times in earth orbit with the Space Shuttle. The platforms have been deployed for terrestrial and astronomical research.
Other important research satellites:
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the cluster fleet of four satellites
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the planetary probes Galileo, Cassini-Huygens, Mars Express and Venus Express
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the ISO infrared telescope
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the Ulysses solar research probe
Future projects, such as the Gaia astronomy satellite, or Planck, will contribute to deepening our understanding of the universe and hone our perspective on the past.
