astronomy

Proteus (satellite)

Proteus (satellite) is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Proteus (satellite) rather than just read about it. In short: PROTEUS (acronym for Reconfigurable Platform for Observation, Telecommunications and Scientific Uses) is a 3-axis stabilized platform designed for mini-satellites weighing approximately 500 kg operating in low Earth orbit. The platform is used by six scientific satellites developed as part of the space program of the National Center for Space Studies (CNES) for the European Space Agency: Jason-1, 2 and 3, CALIPSO, C…

Key takeaways

Proteus (satellite) belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Proteus (satellite) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Proteus (satellite) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

PROTEUS (acronym for Reconfigurable Platform for Observation, Telecommunications and Scientific Uses) is a 3-axis stabilized platform designed for mini-satellites weighing approximately 500 kg operating in low Earth orbit. The platform is used by six scientific satellites developed as part of the space program of the National Center for Space Studies (CNES) for the European Space Agency: Jason-1, 2 and 3, CALIPSO, CoRoT, and SMOS. The platform is developed by the satellite division of Aérospatiale (in 2016 Thales Alenia Space).

History

In 1993, CNES decided to launch the development of the PROTEUS mini-satellite program in parallel and jointly with the Jason-1 satellite, the first user for the platform. Program goals including meeting recurring requirements for satellite solutions in the 500 kg-700 kg class intended for operation in low orbits as platforms for various science and applications. After an industrial consultation with the national prime contractors of the time, Aérospatiale (Cannes) was selected, in May 1996, as industrial prime contractor, with the system to be built in the Cannes-Mandelieu space center. By 2010, the PROTEUS platform accumulated 20 years of on-orbit success, with the five satellites that had been orbited: Jason-1, CALIPSO, CoRoT, Jason-2, and SMOS. In the same multi-mission platform perspective, the Myriade program to support mission objectives achievable with microsatellites weighing less than 200 kg.

Technical Characteristics PROTEUS is a 3-axis stabilized platform designed for missions in low earth orbit for satellites with a total mass of approximately 500 kg, including 270 kg for the platform excluding propellants. Its main features are as follows:

Dimensions: 954 mm x 954 mm x 1,000 mm Energy: solar panels with an area of 9.5 m2, with one degree of freedom and providing 450 watts (Jason-1) to 550 watts (Jason-3) at the theoretical end of life Attitude control: the satellite is stabilized on 3 axes with a pointing precision of 0.15° (Jason-3). The fine sensors used to determine the orientation of the satellite are two three-axis star finder and three two-axis gyrometers. The coarse sensors are three-axis magnetometers and 8 solar sensors with an optical field of 4 ft. The orientation is corrected using four reaction wheels which are desaturated using magneto-couplers. Propulsion: liquid propellant rocket motors burning hydrazine with a Delta-v capacity of about 120 m/s. The mass of hydrazine carried is 28 kg (Jason-3). Data storage: 500 megabits for telemetry data and 2 gigabits for scientific data. Communications: S-band telecommunications with a maximum throughput of 800 kilobits/s. Lifespan: 3 years for consumables, 5 years for hardware and radiation tolerance.

Responsibilities The PROTEUS platform and command and control segment has been developed based on a partnership between CNES and Aérospatiale (now Thales). The integrated team carries out the design of the PROTEUS multi-mission bus, the industrial production of the platform and associated satellites of which is the responsibility of Thales Alenia Space. In accordance with the partnership agreements, CNES remains in contro of workfor its own missions.

Applications

Six satellites use this platform:

Jason-1, remote sensing for measuring the height of the oceans, launched on December 7, 2001. It celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2011 and reached end of mission in 2013 CALIPSO, launched April 28, 2006, meteorological satellite that has been operating for more than 14 years. CoRoT, space telescope for studying the internal structure of stars and searching for exoplanets, launched on December 27, 2006. OSTM/Jason-2, follow-on mission to Jason-1, launched on June 20, 2008. SMOS, soil humidity study mission, launched on November 2, 2009. Jason-3, copy of Jason-2, ordered on February 24, 2010 by EUMETSAT and placed in orbit in January 2016. This is the most recent satellite using this platform.

References

Bibliography Sghedoni, M.; et al. (1997), "Attitude and Orbit Control System for Multimission Spacecraft Platform", Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems, Proceedings of the 3rd ESA International Conference, vol. 341, pp. 133–139, Bibcode:1997ESASP.381..133S, ISBN 9290922079, Sghedoni1997

External links Thales Alenia Space

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Proteus (satellite)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Proteus (satellite) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Proteus (satellite) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Proteus (satellite) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Proteus (satellite)

In research: Proteus (satellite) appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Proteus (satellite) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Proteus (satellite) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Earth observation satellites, Satellites of France, Satellites orbiting Earth, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Proteus (satellite) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Proteus (satellite) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Proteus (satellite) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Proteus (satellite) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Proteus (satellite) in simple terms?

Why does Proteus (satellite) matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Proteus (satellite)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Proteus (satellite).