ANGELS & EyeSat in orbit
OPS-SAT is a 3U CubeSat and the first satellite to be launched by Arianespace for Tyvak on behalf of ESA.
Tyvak offers access to space by providing end-to-end, cost-effective space systems using agile aerospace processes and accelerating on-orbit access especially for the small-, nano- and CubeSat categories of satellites. Tyvak International of Italy provided the deployer and launch service for OPS-SAT on behalf of ESA.
OPS-SAT is the world’s first free-for-use, in-orbit testbed for new software, applications and techniques in satellite control. It enables new software to be tested in orbit, bringing Europe forward to a new era of space flight innovation and commercial opportunity.
In the first year of operation, OPS-SAT will host over 100 in-flight experiments submitted from many ESA Member States. OPS-SAT was developed by the Graz University of Technology with subcontractors from Austria, Germany, Poland and Denmark. It will be operated by ESA from the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Germany.
EyeSat is a 3U CubeSat designed to study the zodiacal light and image the Milky Way. It has three main objectives:
- Scientific,
- To demonstrate new satellite technologies, and
- To train students in space engineering professions.
The EyeSat is being financed and developed by the French CNES space agency (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) within the scope of the Janus project (Jeunes en Apprentissage pour la réalisation de Nanosatellites des Universités et des écoles de l’enseignement Supérieur), which is designed to encourage students in universities and engineering schools to develop their own very small satellites.
The EyeSat satellite is in the form of a 3U CubeSat and is fitted with an instrument called IRIS, which is a small space telescope.
EyeSat will be the 16th satellite (including Pleiades satellites) to be launched by Arianespace for CNES.
There is one additional CNES satellite to be launched in the Arianespace’s backlog: TARANIS.
ANGELS (for: Argos Néo on a Generic Economical and Light Satellite) is jointly financed and developed by the French CNES space agency (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) and Hemeria – an innovative industrial group active in the aerospace, defense, energy, rail and automotive markets (which is an affiliate of Nexeya).
ANGELS is a 12U CubeSat, and is the French industry’s first nanosatellite.
The satellite will be fitted with a miniaturized ARGOS Néo instrument, which is 10-times smaller than the equivalent previous-generation device. The instrument collects and determines the position of low-power signals and messages sent by the 20,000 ARGOS beacons now in service worldwide.
Two project teams – CNES and Hemeria for ANGELS; and CNES, Thales Alenia Space and Syrlinks for ARGOS Néo – are working together on this French space project.
ANGELS paving the way for French industry to build operational nanosatellites within the “new space” environment.
ANGELS will be the 17th satellite (including Pleiades satellites) to be launched by Arianespace for CNES.