Thales

Stéphane Tessandori

Raphaël Hache

Alexandre Kaltenbach

Raphael Hache

A method for stationing a satellite comprises a transfer phase, during which the satellite moves on an elliptical geosynchronous orbit, the orbit being deformed progressively by application of a thrust by electrical or hybrid electrical-chemical propulsion to bring it closer to a geostationary orbit. The transfer step comprises a substep during which, during a plurality of revolutions of the satellite, the thrust is stopped for a fraction of orbital period and tests of a telecommunications payload of the satellite are performed in the absence of thrust.

Method for stationing a satellite and in-orbit testing of its payload

A method for characterizing a transmitting antenna of a satellite in orbit comprising a payload comprising signal amplification means, includes: configuring the said amplification means to generate thermal noise at the input of the transmitting antenna; acquiring, by means of a ground station, the signal transmitted by the transmitting antenna on the downlink of the satellite over a predetermined time period; during the said predetermined time period, controlling the said satellite in orbit in order to impart on it an angular bias of predetermined variation and recording this variation; correlating the measurement of the signal transmitted on the downlink and the variation of angular bias of the satellite in order to derive therefrom the gain variations of the transmitting antenna as a function of the angular bias of the satellite.

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Cannes la Bocca, France

Stéphane Tessandori