EADS Astrium Selects Arianespace to Launch Spirale

PARIS, Oct. 18, 2005/Satnews Daily/ ¾ EADS Astrium has chosen Arianespace to launch the two "Spirale" micro satellites, technology demonstrators for a spaceborne optical early warning system.

The two Spirale satellites will be injected into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 launched from the Guiana Space Center. They will be carried as auxiliary passengers on an Ariane 5 mission in 2008, using the ASAP 5 structure.

EADS Astrium is the prime contractor for the Spirale demonstration program, acting on behalf of French defence procurement agency DGA. It will involve the construction of about 130-kg micro satellites each, using the Myriade platform developed by CNES.

The Spirale demonstration program is designed to collect and analyze images in the infrared band against a land background, in order to detect ballistic missiles during their boost phase. The Spirale program heralds a future early warning system that will be a strategic component in a ballistic missile defence system.

It is the second time this year that EADS Astrium has chosen Arianespace to launch a military satellite after the selection of Ariane 5 for the British Ministry of Defence’s Skynet 5A and Skynet 5B military communications satellites.

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