Satellite Structures

Since the beginning of European space activities RUAG Space designs and manufactures lightweight structures and thermally stable platforms for many ESA missions as well as for commercial telecommunication satellites.

Programmes

The majority of the European Space Agency's scientific spacecrafts are equipped with structures from RUAG Space. Just to name a few: Huygens, SOHO, Cluster, XMM, Integral, Planck Telescope, Mars Express, Venus Express, LISA Pathfinder, GAIA, BepiColombo.
In Earth Observation RUAG Space delivered structures for following satellites: ERS-1 / 2, Meteosat, METOP, CryoSat and Aeolus.
For the new large telecommunication satellite Alphabus RUAG Space delivers structure components. In the SmallGEO Programme, the ESA development of a new small platform, RUAG Space is responsible for the complete Spacecraft Structure Subsystem as well as for Thermal Control. On the commercial telecommunication satellite market RUAG Space delivers the Central Cylinder for the Spacebus Platform.
RUAG Space is assigned the responsibility for the entire structural subsystem of the Automated Transfer Vehicle Spacecraft, the ESA logistics carrier for the supply of the International Space Station.

Technologies

RUAG Space develops structures tailored to Customers specific requirements. Therefore a broad spectrum of technologies is applied. From conventional stringer stiffened aluminium shells up to high performance carbon fibre reinforced polymers, in monolithic or sandwich design, all technologies for manufacturing and verification are available and have their successful flight heritage.

Dimensionally stable structures and optical benches

Optical systems or pointing requirements of instruments ask for extremely stable structures with minimum distortions due to changing temperature. RUAG Space has developed, manufactured and verified a number of different structures in this field making use of specific design features and materials from high modulus CFRP up to Zerodur sandwiches. Examples are the XMM Mirror Support Platform, the Planck Telescope and the LISA Pathfinder Science Module structure.