Satellite Photogravure
See also: Photogravure
Helios is a satellite range of S of observation soldiers French, designed in collaboration with the Italy and the Spain. Photogravure 1 and Helios 2 share the same design as the civil satellites Spot 4 and Spot 5 .
The data concerning the characteristics of the satellites are incomplete and vague, the ministries for Defense communicating only orders of magnitude, and not having revealed the whole of existing equipment on these satellites.
Photogravure 1
- Orbit: heliosynchronous
- Altitude: 675 km
- Resolution of the images: between 1 and 2 m
- Photogravure 1B, launched the December 3rd 1999 (ARIANE 4), broken down in October 2004
Photogravure 2
- Orbit: heliosynchronous
- Altitude: 675 km
- Weight: 4 200 kg
- Speed: 25 000 km/h
- Resolution of the images: lower than the infra-red meter
- Capacity for the observation of night
- Maneuverability improved compared to Photogravure 1
- Capacities of acquisition of a hundred of photographs per day
- electromagnetic Capité of interception (phone-tappings)
-
Photogravure II-A, launching the December 18th 2004 (ARIANE 5G)
- Photogravure II-B, envisaged for end 2008
The cost of the two satellites Helios 2 is estimated at two billion euros, financed with 95% by France (Belgium and Spain dividing the 5% remainder). Cooperation agreement envisage an exchange of access with:
- the Italian radar Cosmo-SkyMed (Italy had taken part in the financing of Photogravure I).
- the radar very high-resolution German SAR-Lupe.
Users
Satellites - Helios spies are placed under the control of the Direction of the military information (DRM).The users of Photogravure are:
- the Management of the military information (DRM) (ministry for Defense),
- the Head office of the exterior security (DGSE) (ministry for Defense)
- satellite European union centers (EUSC)
For the DRM the images are treated with the National center of targeting based with Air base 110 with Creil (60). The images are delivered there via a mobile station. The fixed center of reception for France is with Colmar.
Uses
The Helios satellites take images high-resolution for the prevention of conflict, or the study of striking (preparation of missions or evaluation of the damage of combat). The satellites Helios 1 would also have the capacity to intercept the signals Inmarsat and Intelsat.Examples of uses:
- access to all the points of the sphere without violation of the airspace.
- to target, guide, prepare and check the damage of combat
- guidance of missiles of the type digital SCALP
- realization of Model of ground for visualization 3D
These satellites come to supplement systems allowing the information, like the drones, the Mirage F1 and the human means of the regiments.
Manufacturers
Alcatel Space, become now Thalès Alenia Space, realizes, inter alia, in the Space center of Cannes Mandelieu, the instrument High-resolution, key instrument of the mission Helios 2. Alcatel Space already provided two instruments EPV (Together of catch of sight) currently in orbit on the satellites Hélios 1A and Hélios 1B.EADS Astrium develops the segment ground user within the framework of a market with the General delegation for the armament. The Component ground user (CSU) has as a main feature to be able to program all the satellites of the family PHOTOGRAVURE (acquisition and image processing PHOTOGRAVURE).