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Alenia
Spazio to Build ESA GOCE Satellite
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The European Space
Agency (ESA) selected Alenia Spazio as the prime contractor for the
Gravity Field and Steady State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE).
The GOCE  spacecraft
will be in orbit for a minimum of two years to provide data which
will help to advance knowledge in solid Earth physics, oceanography,
ice sheet dynamics and sea level changes. The satellite is scheduled
for launch in 2005. The mission will be the first of ESA's Living
Planet Program.
Phase B design
activities are planned to continue until the end of this year when
the implementation work will begin, known as Phase C/D. Alenia
Spazio will be supported by a core team consisting of Astrium GmbH
(platform), Alcatel Space Industries (Gradiometer instrument) and
ONERA (Gradiometer accelerometers and supporting the assessment of
the satellite performances).
The
satellite can be launched on either the Rockot or the Taurus. Either
rocket can inject the planned 770 kg (1697 lbm) satellite at the
reference 260 km (140 nmi) sun-synchronous 96.53 degree orbit with a
reasonable margin. The larger fairing of the Rockot, 2260 mm of
usable diameter, is compatible with a fixed solar array, but the
dimensions of the Taurus, 1372 mm of usable diameter, are only
compatible with a deployable solar array. GOCE is compatible with a
shared launch on Ariane 5 but only if it is declared the ‘primary
payload’, i.e. the payload that is going to be injected first and
on its final orbital parameter.
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