n°15 / May 2012

THE intespaceeditorialFrank AiroldiChief Executive Officer of Intespace

From the beginning to the end of 2011, business activity was steady. In terms of environmental testing, Intespace is now positioned across the entire range of satellites, from the largest to the smallest. We conducted vibration tests for the new-generation Alphasat satellite, the largest telecom-munications satellite ever designed and tested in Europe. These tests, conducted with full and empty tanks and taking safety issues into account, produced conclusive results. The smallest satellite tested by Intespace was the Robusta «cubesat», an educational nanosatellite weighing 1kg and with a 10cm cubic structure, transported on the maiden Vega flight on 13 February 2012.

The DynaWorks® software range for processing test-data continues to be a success. Two major projects conduc-ted in 2011 symbolise this product’s reputation for excel-lence: in the space sector, the analysis and manage-ment of test data and telemetry of ballistic missiles and launchers recorded by EADS Astrium Space Transporta-tion (Sig@re system); in the aeronautical sector, the static structural tests for the Airbus A350 and the fatigue tests for the aircraft’s nose fuselage.

To provide its customers with the greatest added value possible and capitalise on the performances of DynaWorks®, Intespace has put in place a comprehen-sive offer called «Test Lifecycle Management» (TLM). The objective is to offer support throughout V-cycle of product development, from design to qualification, whether for satellites or aircraft.

acCORDS & SUCCESSESThe Observatory of VersaillesSaint-Quentin-en-Yvelines calls upon Intespace expertise

At the beginning of 2010, the University of Ver-sailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines broadened its areas of expertise with the opening of its Observa-tory, specialised in the sciences of the Universe, the observation of natural eco-systems, the climate, the environment and ecological economics. The planetology laboratories decided to pool certain research resources in an «integration and test plat-form». Intespace was selected to create a common test centre which will be operational mid 2012.

A new type of multi-functional chamber designed for spatial-vacuum and thermal-vacuum tests will be installed in a cleanroom. It will also be able to simulate the atmosphere on Mars. Intespace was chosen due to its expertise with this type of equipment and its ca-pability to manage the temperature and atmospheric pressure variations simultaneously. This will nonetheless be the first time Intespace has conducted tests in a Martian environment. Certainly, the close proximity of Intespace’s site in Elancourt was also a decisive factor.

Sales contact : Lionel PASCALtel : 33 (0) 1 82 61 48 12 / lionel.pascal@intespace.fr

DynaWorks® : Intespaceand PLM Systems winthe call for tender launched by Avio (Italy)

A competitive price, a package solution built around the DynaWorks® software integrating the data-base, and a partner, PLM Systems, specialised in product lifecycle management, and who was already wor-king with Avio; these three key factors enabled Intespace to win the contract for implementing a test-data-management system with the Italian aerospace-engine manufacturer in September 2011.Avio is a subsidiary of the Alenia Aeronautica Group and has test centres at its head office in Turin (Rivalta di Torino) and Brindisi (Pouilles). The purpose of the call for tender was to centralise the test-data management in Turin in order to streamline the process for qualifying equipment.DynaWorks® will process all the data, from all sources and in all formats, and has the decisive advantage of being able to manage the simulation data afterwards.

As the publisher of DynaWorks®, Intespace delivers the user licence and provides second-level expertise as well as training support. PLM Systems, which has been the exclusive distributor of DynaWorks® in Italy since 2010, will ensure the parameter setting, deployment and maintenance of the solution. The system will be operational in May 2012.

Sales contact : Diane JOLYtel : 33 (0) 5 61 28 12 82 / diane.joly@intespace.fr

> The Robusta nanosatellite and the test team from the University of Montpellier in front of Alphasat

NEWSLETTER

FOCUSInnovation at the heart of the projectMimecor-VT

For several years, the technical department at Intespace has wanted to undertake an R&D project to improve ther-mal-vacuum tests. The Iris 2010 call for projects launched by the DIRECCTE (formerly DRIRE) of the Midi-Pyrénées region to develop innovation within the regional space industry was therefore an opportunity not to be missed.

Intespace took the initiative to build the consortium re-quired by the regulations of the call for projects, namely an industrial project leader located in the region with less than 500 employees, in partnership with at least one other SME or laboratory. The project took shape under the name Mimecor-VT and was awarded a total invest-ment of 1.4 million euros. This is the largest investment among all the projects proposed.

Automatic piloting of thermal-vacuum tests

Led by DSI, a «disability-adapted» company in Haute-Garonne working in research and development for the space sector, the aim of Mimecor-VT is to automate the control of thermal-vacuum chambers and supply results in real time. Since the phenomena produced during thermal-vacuum testing are not linear, the challenge is to adapt the optimal control techniques and adaptive methods used in robotics to the chambers.To achieve a conclusive result, DSI is working with TSR (Poitou-Charentes), a company specialised in thermal modelling, and LAAS-CNRS, which provides expertise in remote management and control. The prototype’s final customer, Erems (company located in Haute-Garonne), will manage the remote tests by working on the variables.Mimecor-VT will produce three innovations that will per-fect thermal-vacuum tests: tele-monitoring of tests (a demonstration will be conducted during the 1st quarter of 2012 with Erems), the automatic piloting of the cham-bers and the rapid measurement of the internal tempe-rature of the chambers (5 times faster and 5 times more accurate than today.) Intespace’s expertise in filtering techniques applied to rapid temperature measurement using thermocouples provides significant added value.

Project contact : Joseph MERLETtel : 33 (0) 5 61 28 12 57 / joseph.merlet@intespace.fr

TestimonyThe giant Alphasat I-XL satellitesuccessfully tested by Intespace

The Alphasat I-XL satellite is the first model developed on the new Alphabus platform, the result of a par-tnership between EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space. Ordered by the operator Inmarsat, the world leader in mobile telecommunications by satellite, Alphasat I-XL will optimise the geomobile L-band com-munication service, particularly in Europe. Weighing 6.9 tonnes, it is the largest telecommunications satellite produced by Europe.The new-generation payload integrates an innovative digital signal processor (DSP).

Nicolas Bouge, AIT manager at EADS Astrium and Phi-lippe Boyer, who is responsible for vibration testing, talk about the tests conducted by Intespace..

What were the characteristics of this test campaign?Vibration tests were conducted during the summer of 2011 in both configurations, full and em-pty tanks, while guaranteeing optimum safety conditions since the tanks were filled with 3 tonnes of product simulating the propellant. In addition, we had tanks of xenon pressurised at 65 bars.

To ensure the successful completion of the tests, Intes-pace conducted a comprehensive study of operatio-nal conditions for the different test sequences on elec-trodynamic shakers and in an acoustic chamber. In the event of leaks, the IPA-propellant extraction system was improved.Despite the satellite’s size and mass, the tests wereconduc-ted nominally, over the course of two weeks in total.

Did the test facilities need to be adapted?Only minimally. Two studies were carried out; one to check the load compensation of the Intespace’s MVS (Multiple Vibration System) test facility which can go up to 10 tonnes and the other to check the acoustics to en-sure the homogeneity of the diffuse sound field around a satellite of this size.As well as mounting the new satellite adapter, the be-low-hook-height of 10-tonne bridge crane was raised to 13.20 metres. The only new equipment is a 6-tonne scale for weighing and a square handling bracket.

What are the next steps?The tests will continue in 2012 with MCI (XY, CdG and Izz) measures, directly followed by tests in Intespace’s Mis-tral anechoic chamber to check the satellite’s radio-frequency performances. Then the thermal-vacuum tests will be conducted in the large Simmer chamber. As soon as the Alphasat I-XL has been qualified, fol-lowing a final MCI sequence, it will be delivered at the end of the year for a launch at the beginning of 2013.

Sales contact : Jean-François DAVIAUDtel : 33 (0) 5 61 28 11 62 / jean-francois.daviaud@intespace.fr

 

> Alphasat in vibration testing, photo by ASTRIUM

> Mr Nicolas BOUGEASTRIUM ToulouseAIT Manager for the Alphasat Project

Contact :Jean-François Daviaud

Marketing et Communication, IntespaceTél. 05 61 28 11 62

jean-francois.daviaud@intespace.fr

IN BRIEFMetOp-B: the service module is operational

The second of the three polar-orbiting meteorological satellites developed jointly by the European Space Agency and Eumetsat, and manufactured by EADS Astrium, obtained the certification of its service module following the thermal-vacuum tests conducted last summer by Intespace.The launch is scheduled for next May in Baikonur.

Satellite antenna tests:Intespace is competitive.

The antennae of the Astra 2G and W5A satellites will be tested by Intespace. EADS Astrium selected our centre in Toulouse due to its expertise in this field, as well as the centre’s upgraded test facilities: new equip-ment enables simultaneous testing of two reflectors in a thermal vacuum.This innovation also increases competitiveness since the optimisation of the test processes reduces costs and time.

Sales contact : François ROYER

tel : 33 (0) 561 28 10 47 / francois.royer@intespace.fr

ISO 14001 standard:a long-term commitment

Since 2008, ISO 14001 certification has underscored Intespace’s commitment to controlling the impact of its activities on the environment. The main actions underta-ken have enabled us to:Reduce mains-water consumption by 40% by modifying processes.To recycle 44% of the waste produced by the company, by organising the recycling of paper, cardboard and waste metal.For the construction of new buildings, Intespace also takes environmental requirements into account: com-pliance with new standards, taking into account the carbon impact, energy saving (reduction of the impact of technical installations by optimising the production and distribution of fluids, notably cooled water/super-heated water.)

NEWSThe DynaWorks®

User day

The DynaWorks® User day took place on 4 April in Intes-pace offices to present the 7.0 version of the software, which will be officially released this year.15 companies attended the presentation and were able to appreciate the major improvements in this new version.DGA TA and ASTRIUM also presented the highly varied uses of DynaWorks® within their organisations, for ana-lysing vibration data, thermal data or in connection with trajectory tracking. EADS ST presented the Syg@re data-management system for Ariane and missile data, and AVIO presented its GCAT multi-site infrastructure for the data processed by the test and engineering departments.It was also the opportunity for Mr. Frank AIROLDI to present the innovative strategy that we are developing around the Test Lifecycle Management (TLM) concept in which DynaWorks® plays an active role as a comple-ment to testing and engineering in a comprehensive offer of products and services.

 

Frank AIROLDI, CEO of INTESPACE

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