Beyond Gravity's computer powers Europe's Euclid Space Telescope

Beyond Gravity's computer powers Europe's Euclid Space Telescope
by Brad Bartz
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 03, 2023

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid telescope, equipped with a computer from space supplier Beyond Gravity, successfully launched on July 1 aboard a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. The mission of the telescope is to delve into the dark universe's composition and evolution, projecting a large-scale map of the Universe across time and space by observing billions of galaxies.

"Andre Wall, CEO of Beyond Gravity, states, "Euclid will help humankind to better understand some of the universe's greatest mysteries. As a key supplier, we have delivered various products like the satellite computer and the thermal protection that enable the smooth operation of this mission". Thales Alenia Space was the prime contractor of the Euclid mission on behalf of ESA.

Beyond Gravity, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, developed the On Board Computer for the Euclid spacecraft. It was responsible for the complete Command and Data Management Subsystem, which controls the satellite platform (satellite bus) and gathers operational data. This subsystem includes the computer, the interface to the satellite platform functions (for instance to the Euclid propulsion system), and a mass memory.

Erika Hult, Director of Electronics Engineering at Beyond Gravity in Gothenburg, further elucidates, "Our high-performance On Board Computer manages the spacecraft position and orbit, ensures that the spacecraft stays healthy, and communicates with Earth." The Euclid space observatory generates significant data during its operation. The spacecraft's mass memory, developed by Airbus Defense and Space, stores the payload and spacecraft telemetry data onboard before transmission to Earth.

Beyond Gravity also supplied the thermal insulation to protect the space telescope and the platform from the extreme heat and cold in space. The insulation comprises several layers of ultra-thin special plastic films, separated by advanced nettings to achieve efficient insulation in the vacuum of space. Andreas Gottinger, the responsible project manager, remarks, "Our thermal insulation protects the Euclid telescope from temperatures ranging from plus 350 degrees Celsius to minus 190 degrees Celsius."

The Euclid telescope's mass in orbit amounts to two tons, with the thermal insulation alone weighing 38 kilograms. Over 500 individual parts of the thermal insulation, developed and manufactured at the Austrian Beyond Gravity sites, were installed for the Euclid mission.