Europe’s New Weather Satellite Launches With Structure From Beyond Gravity

(CONNECT) On August 12, the European Ariane 6 launcher is scheduled to launch the European Space Agency's (ESA) latest weather satellite into polar orbit. The heart of the MetOp is a six-meter-high structure in which all of the satellite's instruments and vital systems are installed, Beyond Gravity said in a press release. The Zurich-based space company built this structure and other important components for both MetOp and Ariane 6.

"The structure is like the chassis of the satellite," Alexandra Isele, Head of Mechanical Satellites Solutions at Beyond Gravity, is quoted as saying in the press release. "Our structure forms a stable support structure for the satellite's instruments and its supporting systems, such as thrusters." For use in space, the structure has to be light, stable and rigid at the same time and withstand extreme stresses such as radiation, heat, cold or vacuum.

The structure created by Beyond Gravity consists of carbon fiber, aluminum and some titanium for critical connections. The total weight of the refueled satellite at launch is 4.4 tons. The structure accounts for around 1 ton in weight. Beyond Gravity built the carbon fiber composite rocket nose cone, the so-called payload fairing, for the Ariane 6 launch vehicle. ce/hs