Applications 26/10/2026 60 views 0 likes

With its solar arrays integrated and key qualification reviews under way, Europe’s new ice-monitoring satellite, CRISTAL, is moving from assembly into the demanding testing phase that will demonstrate its readiness for the rigours of launch and life in orbit.

In September, engineers at Airbus’ facilities in Friedrichshafen in Germany finished assembling the satellite, marking a major milestone on its journey towards launch. The team then moved on to a new phase of testing, putting the satellite’s systems through their paces. A key highlight was the first solar panel deployment test.

Testing CRISTAL’s solar panel deployment

This crucial test verifies that the mechanisms and software sequences work together as planned, ensuring CRISTAL’s solar wings can be successfully deployed once the satellite reaches orbit.…