TechDemoSat-1 video from orbit captures spectacular Earth views
TechDemoSat-1 was launched on 8th July 2014, and is an in-orbit technology demonstration mission, carrying innovative payloads for British academia and industry.
The video capture starts rolling approximately 30 seconds after TechDemoSat-1 is injected into orbit by the launcher, and was taken by an inspection camera mounted on the exterior of the spacecraft, with the lens trained on the satellite’s Antenna Pointing Mechanism. As the video rolls the camera lens captures the first moments of TechDemoSat-1’s mission, starting with a view into the darkness of free Space. At six seconds in, the Sun appears at the top of the frame as a very bright white flare, with a black dot at the centre where the image is saturated by the intensity of the light. As the Sun disappears from view, the satellite’s rotation reveals a spectacular vista of “blue marble” Earth below, with the lens capturing cloudy skies over the Pacific, south of French Polynesia.
At 25 seconds into the video the Fregat upper stage of the Soyuz-2 rocket appears as a gold object passing away from the satellite left to right at a distance of approximately 60 metres. At 34 seconds a white “dot” crosses the frame left to right – this is almost certainly one of the other satellites that shared the ride into orbit with TechDemoSat-1. The video finishes with the rotation of the spacecraft bringing the Earth back into view.
Sir Martin Sweeting, SSTL’s Executive Chairman said “It is very rare to see actual footage of our satellites in orbit, and so viewing the video taken from TechDemoSat-1 moments after separation from the rocket has been a hugely rewarding and exciting experience for everyone at SSTL. We are delighted with the progress of commissioning the TechDemoSat-1 platform, and are looking forward to the next phase – the demonstration of a range of new technologies being flown on this innovative mission.”
SSTL’s Operations team have now completed commissioning of TechDemoSat-1’s systems, and the commissioning of the payloads on-board this technology demonstration spacecraft has begun. TechDemoSat-1 is the first satellite to be controlled from the new Operations Centre at the Satellite Applications Catapult in Harwell.
The inspection camera on-board TechDemoSat-1 will monitor the behaviour of key mechanical payloads, including the Antenna Pointing Mechanism which is in view for the duration of this video. The camera was manufactured by SSTL’s optics experts from COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) technologies and combines a colour CMOS camera with a high performance machine vision lens. Both the camera and lens were stripped down and ruggedised to survive the vibration and shock loads experienced during launch.
The camera system was optimised to give a depth of field capable of delivering an in-focus image of the Antenna Pointing Mechanism and also the Earth in the background. The camera is connected to the spacecraft’s High Speed Data Recorder which captures the data as well as allowing control over the camera settings.
Headquartered in Guildford, UK, SSTL is part of the Airbus Group. Since 1981 SSTL has built and launched 43 satellites – as well as providing training and development programmes, consultancy services, and mission studies for ESA, NASA , international governments and commercial customers, with its innovative approach that is changing the economics of space.
