Stentor

Spacecraft nº:

France spacecraft nº: 48

Launch data: Designation  01252 / 02F03 Launch date  11 Dec 2002 - 22:22 UT Launch site  Ko, ELA3 Launch vehicle  Ariane-5ECA (V157) Mission   Experimental Communication Decay  11 Dec 2002

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• The Stentor (Satellite de Télécommunications pour Expérimenter les Nouvelles Technologies en Orbite) technological satellite is a French experimental programme to validate, in flight, advanced technologies which would be integrated in the next generation of telecommunications spacecraft. This program will bring French competence to the highest level, both for the prime contractors and the equipment manufacturers, and the ultimate is to improve France's competitive position on the export market. It is supported by CNES (French Space Agency), France Telecom (French Telecommunications Operator) and DGA (Ministry of Defence).
• Its development is under responsibility of a two co-prime contractors which share the work according to their areas of excellence. Alcatel Space for the Spacebus-3000 platform (structure, thermal control, solar array, harness, deployable radiator, chemical and plasmic propulsion). Alcatel Space is also responsible for the communication payload (active antenna, on-board processor, repeater using intermediate frequency conversion) and TCR (Telemetry, Command and Ranging) Subsystem, and for all Assembly, Integration and Validation activities. Astrium provided Eurostar-3000 avionics (data handling, electrical power conditioning, attitude and orbit control.

Mission details:

• Less than 5 minutes into the launch V157 suffered a flight malfuncton which led to the launcher being blown up by the Range Safety Officer, and the Hotbird 7 and Stentor satellites were destroyed in the ensuing explosion.