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| Sentinel 1A Solar Panel Before and After - red arrow show 40 cm crater caused by debris hit |
31 August 2016
ESA engineers have discovered that a solar panel on the Copernicus Sentinel-1A satellite was hit by a millimetre-size particle in orbit on 23 August. Thanks to onboard cameras, ground controllers were able to identify the affected area. So far, there has been no effect on the satellite’s routine operations.
A sudden small power reduction was observed in a solar array of Sentinel-1A, orbiting at 700 km altitude, at 17:07 GMT on 23 August. Slight changes in the orientation and the orbit of the satellite were also measured at the same time.
Following a preliminary investigation, the operations team at ESA’s control centre in Darmstadt, Germany suspected a possible impact by space debris or micrometeoroid on the solar wing.
Detailed analyses of the satellite’s status were performed to understand the cause of this power loss. In addition, the engineers decided to activate the board cameras to acquire pictures of the array. These cameras were originally carried to monitor the deployment of the solar wings, which occurred just a few hours after launch in April 2014, and were not intended to be used afterwards.
Following their switch-on, one camera provided a picture that clearly shows the strike on the solar panel.
The power reduction is relatively small compared to the overall power generated by the solar wing, which remains much higher than what the satellite requires for routine operations.
Sentinel-1 is a two-satellite mission for Europe's Copernicus environment monitoring programme, led by the European Commission. The first satellite - Sentinel-1A - was launched in 2014, while its sister Sentinel-1B is still in its commissioning phase following launch just four months ago.
ESA engineers have discovered that a solar panel on the Copernicus Sentinel-1A satellite was hit by a millimetre-size particle in orbit on 23 August. Thanks to onboard cameras, ground controllers were able to identify the affected area. So far, there has been no effect on the satellite’s routine operations.
A sudden small power reduction was observed in a solar array of Sentinel-1A, orbiting at 700 km altitude, at 17:07 GMT on 23 August. Slight changes in the orientation and the orbit of the satellite were also measured at the same time.
Following a preliminary investigation, the operations team at ESA’s control centre in Darmstadt, Germany suspected a possible impact by space debris or micrometeoroid on the solar wing.
Detailed analyses of the satellite’s status were performed to understand the cause of this power loss. In addition, the engineers decided to activate the board cameras to acquire pictures of the array. These cameras were originally carried to monitor the deployment of the solar wings, which occurred just a few hours after launch in April 2014, and were not intended to be used afterwards.
Following their switch-on, one camera provided a picture that clearly shows the strike on the solar panel.
The power reduction is relatively small compared to the overall power generated by the solar wing, which remains much higher than what the satellite requires for routine operations.
Sentinel-1 is a two-satellite mission for Europe's Copernicus environment monitoring programme, led by the European Commission. The first satellite - Sentinel-1A - was launched in 2014, while its sister Sentinel-1B is still in its commissioning phase following launch just four months ago.
Related/Background
- Sentinel-1 provides new insight into Italy's earthquake
- Drama in orbit: Brazen UFO attacks Earth's Sentinel-1A satellite • The Register
- Images from European satellite reveal possible impact with space junk – Spaceflight Now
- Sentinel-1A after collision with piece of the space debris
- Copernicus Sentinel-1a Satellite Hit by Space Particle
- Sentinel-1A Satellite Takes A Direct Hit From Millimetre Size Particle - Universe Today
- Space particle smacks into Sentinel-1A satellite, leaves sizable dent
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