COLLABORATION BETWEEN TRADITIONAL SPACE AND NEW SPACE IS GOING - to be very strong
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No. 42 I JULY I 2019
“COLLABORATION BETWEEN
TRADITIONAL SPACE AND NEW
SPACE IS GOING
to be very strong
JORDI PUIG-SUARI
FEATURE LATEST NEWS
EUROPEAN SUCCESS OF THE FIRST
SATELLITE FEINDEF
NAVIGATION SYSTEM
1
MOVING OFF THE LANDING PLATFORM
The ExoMars rover has a brand new control centre The epicentre of the action for directing Mars
in one of Europe’s largest Mars yards. The Rover surface operations on Earth is at the ALTEC
Operations Control Centre (ROCC) was inaugurated premises in Turin, Italy. From here, engineers and
on 30 May 2019 in Turin, Italy, ahead of the rover’s scientists will work shoulder to shoulder at mission
exploration adventure on the Red Planet in 2021. control, right next to a very special Mars yard.
The control centre will be the operational hub Filled with 140 tonnes of soil, the Mars-like terrain
that orchestrates the roaming of the Europeanbuilt has sandy areas and rocks of various sizes that will
laboratory on wheels, named after Rosalind Franklin, help rehearse possible mission scenarios.
upon arrival to the martian surface on Kazachok, the
Russian surface platform. Copyright: ALTEC
PHOTO: ESA
IberEspacio
Tecnología Aeroespacial
“NEW SPACE”,
THE NEW FRONTIER FOR STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía has been present in the Space sector since 2007 and has recorded various
successes following on from the extensive experience it has gained from decades of working on
flight electronics in the aeronautical sector.
We have the capabilities to develop equipment and solutions demanded by the sector, which
has enabled us to consolidate the company in the Space market with developments that follow
European Space Agency (ESA) regulations, as well as working on projects for benchmark
companies.
Among its Space developments, Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía supplied all the electronics for the ELSA
(ADS) antenna array. These consisted of Control and Process Units (ICU), management system
and feed distribution units (PDU), etc. and diverse systems for micro-satellites.
In parallel with our activity in what is considered traditional or Classic Space (governed by the
standards set by international agencies like ESA and NASA), we also have the strategic desire to
EDITORIAL
promote developments in the sector known as New Space.
EDITORIAL
New Space focuses especially on systems that will operate in low orbits (LEO). In a way, it
can be said that this scenario is among those that Tecnobit – Grupo Oesía covers in the field of
aeronautics. And in the case of deep space, it is precisely why the company has much to offer
through its experience in both cases.
New Space emerged from Universities and Research Centres, and is now one of the technological
sectors and expanding markets that encourages major efforts in Research and Development. It
also generates major investments (it is calculated that in 10 years it will be a market worth a trillion
dollars).
One foreseeable development of New Space bursting on to the scene is that in lower orbits
traditional satellites will give way to constellations of nano and micro satellites for which the
capacities of the system are based on the group as a whole (model constellation). Replacing a
single satellite with a network of smaller ones has a number of important advantages:
- in their size and design (eg the type of materials), the cost of production and launching is much
less,
- their coverage can range from zonal, or restricted to a precise geographical area, to global (in any
part of the planet) based on the number of components in the constellation.
- their endurance is less reliant on the resistance and durability of their components, more on the
fact that the constellation can be maintained by assuming a level of repositioning that will cover
the “decommissioning” of parts of them by launching new ones to substitute them.
This, together with the emergence of specific new
launchers for this type of nano / micro satellites, will NEW SPACE IS NOW ONE OF
allow for systems that are theoretically everlasting in
providing a service.
THE TECHNOLOGICAL SECTORS
- the generation of waste in these types of small
AND EXPANDING MARKETS THAT
systems that operate in low orbit is without doubt ENCOURAGES MAJOR EFFORTS IN
miniscule, given that the units will end up disintegrating
in the atmosphere. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
Among examples of the future use of this type of
IT ALSO GENERATES MAJOR
capability, based on a constellation of nano / micro INVESTMENTS
satellites, will be:
- providing broadband communications, not only to areas of high density population but also the
most remote ones.
Luis Furnells
- improving the tasks of earth observation through systems based on the “potential of the group” PRESIDENT
and its great endurance. TECNOBIT-GRUPO OESÍA
At present Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía is taking an active part in the development of major European
New Space projects in the commercial field. We are dedicating energy and innovation to offering a
technological contribution to creating advanced solutions based on a model constellation of nano
/ micro satellites that will transform the way that telecommunications work.
SUMMARY 03 EDITORIAL
“New Space”, the new frontier for state of the art
technology companies
Luis Furnells. President. Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía
LATEST NEWS
06 INTERVIEW
Jordi Puig-Suari
“Collaboration between traditional Space and New Space
is going to be very strong”
12 FEATURE
European satellite navigation system
21 OP-ED
BLACK HOLE
Science correspondent at RTVE and Director of
the programme ASTRO24 INTERVIEW
22 SPACE OVER TIME
El Arenosillo
A sentimental story by Álvaro Azcárraga
30 NEW SPACE
MADE IN SPAIN
32 LATEST NEWS
• Sucess of the first FEINDEF
• Hisdesat designates AIRBUS and
THALES ALENIA SPACE to build
SPAINSAT NG satellites
• Preparing for the launch of UPMSAT-2
• CHEOPS: ready to fly MOMENTS
• The first space walk for women will
have to wait
• Discover ESA, united space in Europe
• El satélite español SEOSAT-INGENIO
bajo la órbita de VEGA
• Tenth anniversary of the pilot plant
MELISSA
• Black hole photo
• Last image from the rover
OPPORTUNITY on Mars
• SMOS, MARS EXPRESS and JUICE:
a mission in common
• The Barbie version of astronaut
Samantha Cristoforetti INFORMATION MEDIUM ON
TEDAE’S SPACE COMPANIES:
Airbus DS, ALTER Technology, ARQUIMEA,
Crisa (Airbus DS), DAS Photonics,
39 NEW FLASHES
INFORMATION ON TEDAE’S SPACE
Elecnor DEIMOS, DEIMOS Imaging, GMV,
GTD, Hisdesat, Hispasat, HV Sistemas,
IberEspacio, Indra, PLD Space, SENER,
COMPANIESCOMPANIES
Tecnalia, Telespazio Ibérica,
Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía and Thales Alenia
Space España
4 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42
39 31
NEW SPACE MADE IN SPAIN
LATEST NEWS 38 24
SPACE OVER TIME
06
12 OP-ED 21
FEATURE
32
WRITING STAFF: EDITORIAL BOARD:
LAYOUT:
Silvia Beltrán, Oihana Casas, Teresa Alejos, Sofía Alfaro,
Iñaki Latasa, Francisco Victoria Álvarez, Marcia Ismael Sánchez de la Blanca
Lechón, Araceli Serrano and Arizaga, Torcuato Battaglia, (ART DIRECTOR), Rosana
Antonio Tovar Oriol Casas, Raquel Chivato, Apruzzese, Raquel Arroyo
Mireia Colina, David Manuel and Adrián Díaz
COORDINATOR: César Ramos Fernández, Pilar García, Marta
Jimeno, Sara Lanchas, Mar Quarterly edition - digital
PUBLISHER: Begoña Francoy López, Cristina Pérez, Valentín and printed.
Polo, Pedro Rodrigo, Lorena
Legal deposit ISSN 2254-
Santos, Lucía Senchermes,
9692
Lucila Taddei, Ignacio Tourné
M-46591-2004
and Victoria Velasco
Printed by Expomark 5
interview
Jordi
Puig-Suari
THE FASTEST PROCESSES THAT
I KNOW OF HAVE BEEN SIX
MONTHS, FROM CONTRACT TO
FLIGHT, SOMETHING THAT WAS
UNTHINKABLE BEFORE.”
6 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42
“Collaboration between
traditional Space and
New Space is going
to be very strong”
Jordi Puig-Suari, aerospace engineer and professor along with Bob Twiggs- a concept satellite that is
at Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University), revolutionising the Space sector, the CubeSat, and
has been a lover of aircraft ever since he was little the new idea that people now have of him, known
and aspired to designing a screw that flies before as New Space.
he dies. He hasn’t done that, but he has invented –
to do it in international units, not in inches, so
that students in the United States learn in
HOW DID THE CUBESAT CONCEPT COME ABOUT? centímetres.
CUBESAT IS BASED ON THE IDEA of
“democratization of Space”. I grew up in a country
where at the time Space was inaccessible, and HOW LONG DID YOU TAKE IN MAKING THE
look what’s happened there. I was speaking with FIRST ONE?
a young guy from the Ivory Coast who is studying
in South Africa and has built a satellite, something The idea of the standard came out at the end of
that before would have been impossible and 1999. We had already spent six months thinking
know that I am in part responsible for this about the idea of the 10 cm and there were people
happening on a global scale. That someone in getting started, but we still did not know how we
Vigo says: “Listen, at the University of Vigo we were going to launch parts of the standard. The
make satellites and before nobody would have first 10 years were a test, changing ideas. So we’ve
thought it.” For me the satisfaction is obvious. spent almost 20 years doing it and the first to be
The concept goes back quite a few years. Bob launched were in 2003. The fastest processes that
and I wanted to teach students how to create I know of have been six months, from contract to
something that is very small and simple and flight, something that was unthinkable before.
that can be used to launch satellites and do the With Cubesat the principal standard is 10x10x10
engineering systems and be present in the whole cm, plus the millímetres that separate them.
process from design to launch. All this we noted Picosat is up to 1 kg and Nanosat up to 10 kg.
down on a paper napkin that I think I still have a Minisat is up to a thousand and microsat up to a
photocopy of, the one I sent to Bob to hang on to hundred. With the small ones, nobody thought we
the idea. We first thought of making one up to a could do anything. But there are many satellites
maximum of one kilo (a PicoSat is up to a kilo) of 20 or 30. That is much much smaller than one
and we said that if we are going to make a kilo of 100 and nobody calls them micro – they are
that is a litre. Then out came the numbers and nanosats.
finally it was 10x10x10. What’s more, we wanted
7
interview
in sytems engineering. I wanted
to make things, not do analyses.
HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT WHERE YOU People were starting to talk about HOW DID TWO PROFESSORS
ARE NOW? nano-satellites, of making a chip FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS GET TO
Space was never on my options list
and putting it in the satellite. And COLLABORATE?
that interested me a lot. I went to
because in the ‘80s in Spain the idea the University of Arizona, where they It’s a very interesting story. Bob told
of Space was scant. I started studying were making one of the smallest of me how he was making large satellites
in Barcelona and an opportunity satellites. I came a cropper because but he wanted to do a project where
arose for me in the United States, in the students kept on changing and he could add on a small satellite that
Indiana. I finished my studies there we did not know when we were would be launched from the big one.
and to validate my degree in Spain going to be able to launch what And he asked me: “Are you up for
I had to do a master’s, so I stayed a we were working on. In Cal Poly an making the small one?” I dared to do
few more years, giving classes at the aerospace school was starting up it because it was only batteries and it
university, doing research. During and they wanted to hire someone to was going to be something very small
my doctorate I was very interested set it up from scratch. The mentality - although it was a project that was
at Cal Poly was “if you want to learn cancelled. I had already set up a team
something, you have to do it”, and of students who, without me realizing
I plunged into the project. Then I it, had started to come from other arms
met up with Bob Twiggs, from the of engineering - manufacturacing,
University of Stanford, and we mechanical, electronics -, attracted by
began a project together. And what the others were doing. One day I
that’s where it all began. had to tell them that the project had
been cancelled because of a cut in the
budget, but the students didn’t give
up and continued with the idea. That
is where the students began to design
the pit-boat. Finally they presented it
for a student competition and came
second, which is not bad. What Bob
and I did was to standardize it. We
didn’t have any more time or money,
and we remained faithful to the idea
from the very start. As a matter of fact
people from the sector, including from
NASA, have recognized that.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE NEW
SPACE?
Everyone has his or her own definition
but really it’s a philosophy. It’s not a
technology, it’s not a device, it’s a
way of making Space different.
Assuming more risks, being
more open to new technology
that comes from other
MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42
industries, that don’t come from you can buy an onboard computer
Space. It has been a tool for change. for CubeSat. They can even deliver it
We started out trying to make Space to you via Amazon. IT LOOKS TO BE ALL PROS, BUT WHAT
more agile, cheaper and to have a ARE THE CONS?
greater presence in the commercial
Space garbage is something that could
sector, and the result was “New HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM be a problem and we have to solve it
Space”. The idea that people usually
have is that it is Space companies
TRADITIONAL SPACE? and do things well. Another is the level
of frequencies. If there starts to be a lot
financed by investment from Silicon The fundamental one is the capacity
of satellites there can be interference
Valley, a thing that is more modern to accept risks. Now we say “it may
and one has to think about how to
and aggressive. Or, like Google and not work” but we try. In traditional
handle it correctly. The same goes for
Apple, that world translated to Space you are making perfectly
security levels. Everybody can make
Space. And that is a way of seeing structured spacecraft, but they are
them and people who before didn’t
it, but it overlooks the technological very big, very expensive and not
have the capability to launch a satellite
question in which there is also a many are made. So you spend 10
now do. Another thing that I don’t see
change. years making a satellite that is half
as a disadvantage but is a problem is
of your career and it has to work.
that with many of the regulations and
Industry sees it as a problem. They
processes for obtaining frequencies
have the mentality that “you cannot
WHAT IS THE SPECÍFIC TECHNOLOGY fly anything that has not flown.” So
the permits were designed when we
OF NEW SPACE? we cannot fly anything that is new
were launching three or four satellites.
The infrastructure, the number of
The technology of New Space is and we stall. The commercial sector
people you have working on it and
to go “robbing” the best of all the of traditional Space was much more
the requirements for documentation
rest and taking advantage of Intel, aggressive than governments.
are designed for much longer periods.
Microsoft and Apple spending
We have found that you can make a
thousands of millions developing
satellite faster than it takes to obtain
new systems that we normally do
the permits to launch it. As a matter
not use in Space, because they were
not designed for Space. But they are
ARE TRADITIONAL SPACE AND NEW of fact this matter is speeding up on
super powerful and improving very SPACE COMPLEMENTARY? a global scale. It was seen that things
had to change, but governments are
quickly. It happens that many years When we started all this those slow.
back Space and the commercial who made CubeSats thought
sector were more or less in step. But they could do everything with
when the commercial sector started them. And those that made large
to accelerate, Space did not invest satellites, on the other hand,
sufficiently and we began to pick up thought that the small ones could
SPACE GARBAGE IS
ideas and technologíes from other do nothing. But neither of their SOMETHING THAT COULD
fields. assertions was correct. CubeSats
or small satellites can do many
BE A PROBLEM AND WE
things, but it is better to make it HAVE TO SOLVE IT AND DO
bigger because you can do more
DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU USE things, because we cannot do it all. THINGS WELL”
TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD BE BOUGHT So the big satellite makers have
DIRECTLY FROM A SHOP? accepted that there are things
that, yes, you can do, and others
That’s the way it is, even more you cannot. That is when they WHAT SORT OF THINGS ARE
so because what people do is
use specífic chips from other
started to talk about a need for
a combination. There has been a
CUBESATS USED FOR?
technologies, design a plate change in mentality and I believe In general terms a CubeSat does the
specifically for Space and then this that collaboration is going to be same as other satellites: observation
plate is on sale. Go into the web and very strong. of Earth, communications, scientific
9
interview
research, looking at the weather, you are an insurance company and a 3U (three unit) scientific CubeSat,
going to Mars…the difference is that it there’s a flood and somebody tells you that can do some really interesting
doesn’t do it in the same way. You have they had a house with a garage behind. things, the budgets work out at about
smaller capabilities than you have with You ask yourself if it was there before a million dollars – that’s for three years
larger satellites. They are made in less the flood, so you can call up the photo including its flight, data collecting
time with less reliability and with less from the day before and check it out. and all the rest. So a satellite for a
precision. If you are making an Earth The other important feature is that the million dollars does not compute with
observation in the way they are done cost is lower. what we did before. And that is for a
with large satellites, temporarily it is not scientific satellite, with all its scientific
fast. For example, Planet is developing instruments.
satellites that take photos at a lower
resolution but produce a photo every WHAT SORT OF SCALES ARE WE
day of any part of the world. It changes
TALKING ABOUT?
the potential of the application. It HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THESE
takes photos even if nobody wants It depends. To understand this the cost
them and has a data base in which of a CubeSat is a percentage of “x”,
CHANGES TO THE AVERAGE PERSON?
there is a photo of Earth every day. You which is the value of a large satellite. There are various aspects to the
can even travel back to the past. If there As an example, the Marco A and Marco problem, one of which is that is much
was a natural disaster in a spot where B satellites that went to Mars with more accessible. Many people talk
nobody was taking photos – because it NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory cost of democratizing Space to a level at
is very remote, poor – everybody would less than 50 million, dozens of millions which more people can do it. Today we
be taking photos after the catastrophe. of dollars to launch two small satellites have many universities and we have
But Planet will have photos from to Mars that didn’t do much. That’s to the students that are starting out and
beforehand to make it possible to say it’s really between 7 and 10% of want to build a satellite, something
compare the before and after scenes. the costs of the missions to Mars that that was unthinkable before. Moreover,
And in the market place, if for example usually cost hundreds of millions. With satellites and Space applications
THE CHIPS, THE PROTOCOLS,
THE SOFTWARE, ALL OF THIS IS
MOVING ALONG SO QUICKLY AND IS
WHAT BENEFITS ME WHEN I MAKE
SATELLITES”
10 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42affect everybody and every day CubeSat – are in the connections than a technological one. Because
and that is something that people between the electronics, the software, there they understand, they invest,
are not aware of. Studies show that the mechanics and the power system. they take risks: students know how
almost 100% of industry and other So the idea was to create systems to to set up a company. At the moment
sectors of the economy benefit from link them all. On an educational level things are changing so rapidly and
Space, from a GPS location to satellite they are projects that are not solely
there are so many new ideas that
photos. Practically everybody makes about Space, so they help you learn to
nobody is very far behind.
use of a satellite every day even if connect threads that normally are not
they don’t know it. No longer is it just connected. We need to explain better
the multinational companies that can that traditional universities have to
access the services of satellites, and learn from some of these universities
that has changed. that are starting to do it and are WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP
proving very effective. BETWEEN 5G TECHNOLOGY AND NEW
SPACE?
WHAT SHOULD SPANISH What is important is that just a short
UNIVERSITIES BE LEARNING FROM HOW MANY YEARS ADVANTAGE DOES
time ago we started out on 4G and
now we are on to 5G, and that is
FOREIGN ONES? THE USA HAVE IN NEW SPACE? the technology that I am going to
That is a very interesting question. use. The chips, the protocols, the
Not that many, because New Space is
Universities have always been software, all of this is moving along
not very old. We have taken 20 years,
developed on a level of departments, so quickly and is what benefits me
but the first 10 passed in convincing when I make satellites. It’s not that
schools, telecoms, industrials,
mechanics…And many of the people about what can be done. In I use it in exactly the same way but I
problems and difficulties in the real reality we are talking about five or six move at the same speed as they do.
world – and which is why we started years. Yes, they have an advantage,
but it is a philosophical one rather
CUBESATS AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION
11feature
EUROPEAN SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
European
satellite NAVIGATION
SYSTEM
THE CENTRES
IN SPAIN
GALILEO IS THE EUROPEAN UNION’S GLOBAL Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS), providing precise information for location and for time, and has a
significant positive impact for both European and global users. Its goal is to
guarantee the EU’s autonomy in the field of satellite navigation and at the
same time to help promote Europe’s industrial fabric in this rapidly expanding
market and create a large number of high quality added value jobs.
12 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42“GALILEO COMPLEMENTS
EXISTING OR UNDER
CONSTRUCTION GNSS
SYSTEMS: THE GPS FROM THE
UNITED STATES, GLONASS
FROM RUSSIA AND CHINA’S
BEIDOU”
Galileo complements existing or under to rely on non civilian GPS and GLONASS signals.
construction GNSS systems: the GPS from the With Galileo they now have a new and reliable
United States, GLONASS from Russia and China’s alternative that unlike other programmes is under
BeiDou. There are also various regional systems exclusive civilian control.
[RNSS], the main ones being those developed for
Japan and India. Until now GNSS users have had All these GNSS are inter compatible. That’s to say
they don’t interfere with each other and are also
interoperable, which enables users of standard
GNSS receivers to use different systems at the same
time. This enables them to benefit from a higher
level of service and features, no matter
which coverage area they are in.
The features of a GNSS can
be evaluated using four criteria:
precision, integrity, continuity
and availability.
These features can be improved
by using regional Satellite-Based
Augmentation Systems (SBAS)
such as Europe’s EGNOS [European
Geostationary Navigation Overlay
Service], which increases both the precision
and reliability of the information originating from
the GNSS, correcting measuring errors in the signal
and providing information related to integrity (that
is, a guarantee of correction) of the original signal.
Spain’s Space industry is broadly represented in
the European Union’s GNSS in both the ground and
flight segments.
Galileo satellite separating
in the final launch phase of a
Soyuz probe
13feature
EUROPEAN SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
CURRENT STATE OF THE EUROPEAN SATELLITE
NAVIGATION SYSTEM [E-GNSS]
The E-GNSS are two Germain-en-Laye, Paris) and various high performance serices
programmes of the European Spain (San Martín de la Vega, on a global scale:
Commission, that are managed Madrid); a Reference Service
by the GSA, the European Agency Provider (GRSP) centre; a Time Open Service (OS)
for Satellite Navigation Systems, Service Provider (TSP) centre；a
based in Prague, and the ESA, the Search and Rescue Service High Accuracy Service (HAS)
European Space Agency. Provider centre [SAR/Galileo Data
Service Provider – SGDSP] located Authentication Service (of the
in Toulouse (France); and the navigation message, OS-NMA,
independent monitoring centre, and the signal ( SAS))
Galileo System Galileo Reference Centre (GRC), in
Noordwijk (Netherlands). Public Regulated Service
The start of the Galileo (PRS)
System dates back to 1999 Terrestrial components of the
when the European Commission system include infrastructure Search and Rescue Service
presented the project as a major deployed right around the planet. (SAR)
commitment by the EU. The first Currently there are:
Galileo satellite – an experimental
one – went into orbit in 2005 16 Galileo Sensor Stations
with the first operational one (GSS), that receive and
being launched in 2011. So far 26 send out in real time system
satellites have been launched, 24 measurements and signal data
of which are operative and two are (SIS) to the Galileo Control
being tested. Centres (GCC).
The 30 satellites for the 5 Galileo Uplink Stations
constellation will be complete by (ULS), that distribute and send
the end of 2021, while the process out mission data to the Galileo
for defining the second generation satellite constellation.
is now under way.
5 Telemetry, Tracking &
The ground structure is Control stations (TT&C),
complex and includes two control that register and send out
centres [GCC], in Germany telemetry data generated by
(Oberpfaffenhofen) and in Italy the satellites and distribute
(Fucino); a service centre for control commands to carry out
Galileo users (GSC) in Spain maintenance operations in the
(Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid); an in constellation.
orbit test centre in Belgium (Redu-
RSS); two security monitoring Once it is declared fully operative
centres (GSMC), in France (St. (FOC) the Galileo system will offer
14 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42FIGURE 1- ARCHITECTURE OF THE GALILEO/
FOC SYSTEM
[SOURCE GSA]
5 TT&C STATIONS
USERS & SERVICES
PROVIDES
9 MISSION UPLINK CONSTELLATION OF
STATIONS 30 MEO SATELLITES
30-40 GALILEO
EUROPEAN CONTROL SENSOR STATIONS
CENTRES
There are also plans for providing December 2016. Since then the user
services for distributing Emergency service centre located in Spain –GSC- has
Warnings (EWS) and facilities for been publishing quarterly reports on the
developing ‘safety-of-life’ (SoL) security performance statistics of both services.
applications. The results show that the system has
surpassed the goals specified for both
The European GNSS Agency (GSA) services. (Source: Galileo Public Report
announced the start of the Galileo © European Union, 2018”).
System services for OS and SAR in
15feature
EUROPEAN SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
EGNOS System
The EGNOS (European – and its operations were put in service provision contract. The
Geostationary Navigation Overlay the hands of the company ESSP, contract runs until the end of
Service), as we mentioned still the supplier for the EGNOS 2021.
earlier, is the European regional service.
augmentation system based Functioning of EGNOS and its
on satellites (SBAS). It is used In 2011 the EGNOS Safety of Life services
for enhancing features of the (SoL) service was declared open
constellations such as the GPS after obtaining certification of the EGNOS augments the civil
and in the future it will include that signal for its use in aviation. In signal GPS L1 (1575.42 MHz)
of Galileo. EGNOS was set up and 2014 the European Commission (C/A), carrying out corrections in
deployed to provide SOL (Safety delegated the operating of EGNOS the following sources that affect
of Life) services for aviation, the to the GSA. the pseudo ranges of GPS: errors
maritime sector and for ground in the positions of satellites, in
transport. From 2022 it is expected that their clocks and errors introduced
the new version of the system, from the ionosphere.
EGNOS uses the GNSS currently in development
measurements taken by high and known as EGNOS v3, will EGNOS messages are
precision geo reference stations augment not only signals from retransmitted to users via two
– known as RIMS (Ranging and the GPS system but also from geostationary satellites. The
Integrity Monitoring Stations)- Galileo. information provided by EGNOS
improves the accuracy and
The EGNOS programme is reliability of the GNSS positioning
“EGNOS MESSAGES ARE
RETRANSMITTED TO USERS managed by two entities: at the same time as supplying a
VIA TWO GEOSTATIONARY true message (information about
SATELLITES.” The European Commission errors and the probability of them
(EC): is the administrator of occurring).
which are deployed all around the EGNOS system, which is
Europe and north Africa. These owned by the EU. EGNOS also transmits a precise
measurements are then passed time signal. EGNOS is designed
on to a calculation centre where The European Space Agency to be interoperable with other
they work out the correction (ESA): led the development Augmentation Systems based in
differentials and the integrity of the EGNOS system in the satellites –SBAS-, such as WAAS
messages. These are then past and is now the body from the US and India’s GAGAN.
transmitted throughout the designated by the EC to design The coverage area for EGNOS is all
coverage area using geostationary developments for the system. of Europe. At the moment, EGNOS
satellites, augmenting the original provides three services:
GNSS messages. The European GNSS (GSA)
Agency: is in charge of managing 1. Open Service (OS): Its main
The EGNOS the EGNOS programme, its objective is to improve the
Programme operations and exploitation, as precision of the GPS signal.
well as the development and
The EGNOS Programme promotion of its services. 2. Safety of Life (SoL) Service:
was launched by the European This service provides the
Commission in 1994 and began European Satellite Services highest standards of features
operating in 2001 with the 2.1 Provider (ESSP): The company for users of the security
version of the system. In 2009 is the current supplier of positioning services and has
the first EGNOS service was EGNOS services, ever since been designed to support
announced –the Open Service OS the GSA awarded it the operations for the guiding in
16 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42and landing of civilian aircraft up Components of Land Earth Stations) and the
to LPV[Localiser Performance the System communications network
with Vertical guidance]. EWAN [EGNOS Wide Area
• Space segment: is made up of Network]. It should be
3. EGNOS Data Access Service three geostationary satellites highlighted that within each
(EDAS): This service provides that emit corrections and MCC is a Central Processing
GNSS and EGNOS data via an information integrity in the Facility (CPF) which is the
internet communication service L1 frequency band: two are calculating module for working
in real time, as well as details of operational and one is testing. out corrections and the residual
FTPP data. It is the only point errors that stem from them.
of access to the EGNOS data • The land segment consists
generated by the land based of a network of reference
infrastructure. The service has stations (Ranging Integrity
been available since 26 July Monitoring Stations, RIMS),
2012. two Mission Control Centres
(MCCs), six NLES (Navigation
COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM
GEO GPS
SPACE SEGMENT
NLES RIMS
Navigation Ranging & Integrity
Land Earth Monitoring Stations
Stations
USER SEGMENTS
GROUND SEGMENT
EWAN (EGNOS WIDE AREA NETWORK)
Perfonmance Assessment
PACF and Check-out Facility
MCC
Mission
Control Application Specific
Centres ASQF Qualification Facility
17feature
EUROPEAN SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
GALILEO SYSTEM
INSTALLATIONS IN SPAIN
Services Centre
GNSS - GSC
Spain has the Loyola de Palacio
GNSS (GSC) Service Centre which
is located at the INTA complex in
Torrejón de Ardoz, in the Comunidad
de Madrid region.
This centre is the sole interface
for all users at a global level of the
Open Service (OS). It supports the
SAR- Search and Rescue segment
– that has been operational since
December 2016, and which in the
future will manage operations
for the High Accuracy (HAS) and
authentication (OS-NMA) services.
Operations oriented in support of
the user community
The operation and maintenance
services of the GSC are completely
integrated in the processes of the
system operator (GSOp, Galileo
Service Operator). The GSC is the
integrated service interface for Figures 2 - 3: Entrance to the GSC and front view of the GSC - INTA.
the user community and covers
the administration of the web
portal, the user help line service, NMA) services through a physical roads, maritime, aviation and
technical support and evaluation link at the centre. synchronization) through the
of the service’s performance. It also promotion and development of
informs users of manouevres and Operations and service processes applications and services.
availability of the satellites (NAGU). implemented at the GSC are
continually being updated, based Within the scope of the GSOp
on the premise of maintaining contract, which was adjudicated to
“THE GOAL OF THE GSC TEAM IS customer satisfaction and Spaceopal GmbH (JV Telespazio,
TO IMPROVE THE POSITIONING increasing the quality of support DLR/Gfr), the Spanish companies
OF GALILEO AS A KEY GNSS services for the user. and entities that provide services
SYSTEM IN THE MARKET”
for the GSC are:Telespazio Ibérica,
The goal of the GSC team is INECO, ISDEFE, INTA, GMV, INDRA
to improve the positioning of and Deimos.
Developments for the Galileo Galileo as a key GNSS system in
system are scheduled to include the market, promoting its services
the incorporation of High Accuracy for incorporating new domains
(HAS) and Autentication (OS- of user segments (e.g. railways,
18 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42The Galileo Security
Centre - GSMC
The Security Monitoring Centre The infrastructure that the GSA has cryptographics and with central
[GSMC] represents a critical piece been allotted by INTA is provisional, components of Galileo for
of infrastructure within the Galileo with Spain committed to delivering a administering signals /messages
system. Its objective is to oversee definitive GSMC installation, one that connected with satellites.
the security of the system in line with is currently under construction near
the bases of the programme and the current complex. Implementation of ‘joint action’
the satellite navigation services for instructions’: In the case of a
users in the public sector. It has an This new centre represents an security threat to the European
important role in managing access to opportunity and strengthens Spain’s Union or a member state deriving
the Public Regulated Service [PRS], presence in a European Satellite from the operation or use of the
one of the five services provided by Navigation System (E-GNSS) that system, or in the case of a threat
Galileo, which is used by customers brings with it strategic advantages. to the functioning of the system
in the security and defence sector These will improve the country’s itself, in particular resulting
(Police, Customs, Defence, Civil positioning in the programme from an international crisis, the
Protection, etc.). and should translate to a bigger board, by unanimous decision,
participation by Spanish industry in will decide on the necessary
Spain has received the backing of high value technological contracts instructions for the GSA and the
the EU to host this centre which was and the consolidation of national concessionaire of the system.
originally installed at Swanwick in the know-how and technology, especially
United Kingdom.. As a consequence in the field of GNSS security services. Supplying the PRS service
of Brexit, it was decided to transfer and Galileo with expertise and
the facility, to keep it within the EU. The GSMC has the following capability analysis in the field of
functions: security.
The installations are located within
the INTA complex of “La Marañosa” Monitoring security: The GSMC The Spanish companies and
at San Martín de la Vega, near Madrid, monitors and takes action in areas entities that provide services are:
and function as a support for the related to security threats and GMV, Indra, Deimos…
GSMC Centre which is situated near alerts, and the operational state
Paris. of the system’s components.
The provisionary installations Management of
have now been handed over to PRS access at
the GSA – the European Agency systems level: The
for Satellite Navigation Systems. GSMC guarantees
The event took place on 14 April, that the confidential
presided over by the Minister of information related
Defence, Margarita Robles. She to the Public
was accompanied among others Regulated Service
by the UE’s director of programmes (PRS) is properly
for satellite navigation, Matthias administered and
Petschke; the executive director of protected and that
the GSA, Carlo deDorides, and the the Operations
deputy director of Land Systems at Centre of Galileo
INTA, General Manfredo Monforte. is not put at risk. Figure 4 - GSMC: visit of the Minister of Defence
Mr Petschke said he was convinced The GSMC serves as an accompanied by the Director General of the National
Institute of Aerospace Technology, Lieutenant General
of the “high level of service” that interface with government
José María Salom, and the Director of the GSMC
the installations at INTA will offer entities (through located in France, Philippe Rosius. Source: Ministry of
( h t t p : // w w w. d e f e n s a . g o b . e s / platforms of computerized Defence.
gabinete/notasPrensa/2019/04/ points of contact - POCP)
DGC-190411.html). for the requests of key
19feature
EUROPEAN SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
ESP – EGNOS Services
Provision Centre
The EGNOS Services Provision
Centre is based at Torrejón de
Ardoz (Madrid) in a building
within the complex of the ENAIRE
Air Traffic Control Centre that
borders the Torrejón Air Base.
ESSP SAS, which manages
the EGNOS services, is a
limited company which has its
headquarters in Toulouse, where
the Operations, Engineering
and Security units are based.
Figure 5: ESSP – The ENAIRE Air Traffic Control Centre on the road to the Air Base at
Its Spanish subsidiary includes Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid. [Source: Google]
the Service, Provision and
Promotion units. ESSP has seven and some neighbouring regions. SD&A - [Service Development
shareholders that are suppliers of Other countries that have already and Adoption]: Development
air navigation services. implemented or are developing and adoption of EGNOS
their own augmentation systems services, promoting its benefits
The SBAS augmentation are the United States, Japan, India, in different segments of the
services use GNSS measurements China, South Korea and Russia. market (Aviation, Maritime,
registered by high precision SBAS is essential for applications Railways, Agriculture,
where precision and integrity Cartography).
are critical. In particular, SBAS is
“SEVERAL COUNTRIES HAVE
IMPLEMENTED THEIR OWN indispensable in situations where UPM - [User performance
AUGMENTATION SYSTEMS [SBAS]. human lives are at risk or where monitoring]: Monitoring the
EUROPE HAS DEPLOYED EGNOS GNSS is being used to provide performance, guaranteeing
WHICH COVERS MOST OF THE a form of legal or commercial transparent information and
EU AND SOME NEIGHBOURING
guarantee. alert services on the outputs of
REGIONS”
EGNOS for its users, including
For example, in the aviation NOTAM hazard notices for the
sector, GPS does not meet the aviation sector.
benchmark stations that are strict operational requirements
deployed throughout the continent of the International Civil Aviation US - [User support]: To provide
and in neighbouring regions. All Organization (ICAO) for use in EGNOS users with technical
the error measurements from the important stages of a flight such asssessments via a 24/7
GNSS signals are transferred to a as the final focus. However, with assistance service, a web
central computer bank where the the addition of SBAS, the ICAO site dedicated to helping the
differential corrections are carried standards are met. Beyond the user and issuing notifications
out and integrity messages are aviation sector, SBSS improves on the state of the service.
generated. The data they generate and broadens the reach of GNSS Users are also kept up to
is transmitted to the EGNOS applications such as precision date on improvements to and
coverage area using geostationary agriculture, the management of developments of the service.
satellites that augment the original vehicle fleets on the road and
message from the GNSS system. geodesy, to name just a few. EDAS - [EGNOS DATA ACCESS
SYSTEM]: Supplying registered
Several countries have ESSP carries out the following users in real time via Internet
implemented their own activities at the Torrejón service with GNSS data that has not
augmentation systems [SBAS]. centre to support EGNOS users in been processed and with
Europe has deployed EGNOS its different domains: messages from EGNOS.
which covers most of the EU
20 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42op-ed
BLACK
HOLE
“To the camera no… I am not talking to camera” a specialist researcher in biodiversity tells me when we start to set up the
equipment for the interview. He catches me by surprise and I let out a little laugh of disbelief. “Afterwards you put in some
10 second comments and headline them however you want,” he continues. “I will tell you all you want, but not to camera”.
who regarded journalists as little more than halfwits.
He decided the best thing to do was to give them
the news already edited and would not allow them
CARLOS
access to the sources (the researchers), or if he did
so reluctantly and well supervised.
RUSCALLEDA The question is no better when seen from the
other side. Doing scientific news has for many years
SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT been like chasing neutrinos in a quantum world.
AT RTVE AND DIRECTOR There was only one thing worse than interviewing
a researcher; talking with a technician. Usually
OF THE PROGRAMME you come out more confused and perplexed than
ASTRO24 before you started your questions. Some colleagues
go straight to the root of the problem. “Let’s see, you
tell me this” – and, yes, they told the interviewee
what he had to say - “and in less than 12 seconds”.
Fortunately Microsoft invented PowerPoint,
This scene illustrates the distrust that many scientists started to emerge from their laboratories,
scientísts and technicians still have towards the to present projects and give conferences, and
media, especially TV. And it’s not an unusual they have ended up taking part in monologue
reaction. At times we give them more than enough competitions and creating their own Youtube
reasons to clam up in unison. channel. Parallel to this, the major institutions and
companies set up press offices and the media
If the radar on the Mars Express detects signs of began training journalists who specialize in science
liquid water under the surface of Mars we headline and technology, offering courses and chats for
it: “Lake of liquid water on Mars” when in reality it’s scientists to bring them closer to the reality of work
a salty mud. Then NASA suspends the first space in a newsroom. And so with time and a few fits and
walk led by women: “There are no clothes for them”; starts we have all been polishing the edges, ironing
and if radio signals are detected at a billion and a out differences and overcoming mix ups.
half light years away: “Extraterrestrial radio signals.”
– (Put on some film clip says the boss, that always I think the essence of scientific communication
goes down well.) Sometimes it’s an incendiary is clarity in its explanation. If before giving the OK
scientist who lights the fuse. “Oumuamua could to your piece the editor asks you “So the lake is
be an alien spaceship” says a leading researcher at líquid water?”, better that you bin it and start again.
Harvard and everybody dives in. Scientists complain that we force them to renounce
any complexity and to speak in metaphors for those
Pieces of information like these that are treated that are not so gifted. I remember the problems
lightly contribute to reopening the black hole of Peter Higgs had in explaining his famous boson.
incomprehension between scientists and the I didn’t even try to; neither do I believe it’s my
media that it has cost so much to close (and then mission. I settle for saying how he won the Nobel
only part way). I knew a mathematician, head of Prize in 2012 and perhaps awakening the curiosity
communication at a leading scientific institution, of a viewer, to keep him enquiring.
21SPACE
OVER TIME
El Arenosillo is a modern missile to equip the site and cover the first
experimental centre in Huelva launches. The other, the Programme
province. Previously known as for Long Term Cooperation with
Cedea, it is accountable to the Sub- NASA, was for scientific experiments
directorate for Experimentation and to be performed at the test field.
Certification at Spain’s National With the short term programme both
Institute of Aerospace Technology institutions recognized their mutual
(INTA). interests in carrying out a cooperative
project to glean weather information
FOTOS CEDIDAS POR MARIANO VÁZQUEZ VELASCO, AUTOR DEL LIBRO “DE EL ARENOSILLO AL CEDEA”
In 1966, NASA and CONIE – the from a high altitude above Spain
National Comission for Space and to test and evaluate equipment
Research – signed two agreements. and techniques for using survey
One was called the Programme for rockets to carry out meteorological
Short Term Cooperation with NASA, observations.
El Arenosillo
It was from here that the future El 30 to 60 kilometres. What was expected
Arenosillo, the one that we know today, from all this was to gather data that would
was born. The Booster-Dart and Arcas provide information on the dynamics of
type rockets would be the first to be atmosphere circulation for use in studying
launched to obtain overview data on winds, meteorology and the atmospheres of
temperatures and pressures at altitudes of planets.
THE LAUNCH SITE OF EL
ARENOSILLO WAS GIVEN
THE GO-AHEAD TO BEGIN
OPERATING ON 1 OCTOBER
1966, AND CARRIED OUT
ITS FIRST LAUNCH UNDER
THE ORDERS OF ÁLVARO
AZCÁRRAGA ON 15 OCTOBER
22 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42At the end of 1964, studies the orders of Álvaro Azcárraga wind direction and speed as
began to choose a place for on 15 October, with great well as the temperature of the
the launch site and the types expectations and a satisfactory atmosphere in the test zones. It
of rocket to be used and the outcome. That first launch was was a one stage craft, made up
necessary equipment. These made with a Skua rocket, the of a solid fuel Judi engine and an
were entrusted to INTA and the first in a family of survey rockets inert stretched body, the Dart.
recently created Department built by the British BAJ. Over This carried the payload, as well
of Advanced Studies, headed time its four models would be as a delayed pyrotechnic system
by Segismundo Sanz Aránguez. launched from El Arenosillo. for initiating a cargo ejection, one
They in turn tasked the job to the These rockets consisted of a that would separate the cargo
aeronautical engineers Álvaro main motor, the Bantam, and – depending on the type being
Azcárraga and Pedro Sanz- an accelerator system made up carried – between 90 and 115
Aránguez, who had completed of a variable number of booster seconds after the moment of
their training in the United States motors, the Chicks, depending lift-off.
and who relied on support from on the version used and the
staff in other departments at activities it needed to carry out The first CONIE-NASA
INTA. It was decided that the (at altitudes of between 70 and Cooperative Meteorological
ideal area would be in the south 110 kms) with payloads of up to Programme envisaged the
of Spain, based on the technical 15 kgs. With these four models launch of five Skua and 12 Judi-
and operative conditions of the the direction of the rocket was Dart, with the aim of measuring
project. The final setting chosen governed by the draft of the fins, the temperature and the speed
was a forested area near the Pico which could not be modified. and direction of the wind in the
del Loro hill, the Arenosillo gully, The first launch went up to an atmosphere at an altitude of
and the beach at Mazagón in the altitude of more than 60 kms. between 20 and 70 kms (at
province of Huelva. Then they did two more with that time meteorological interest
Judi- Dart rockets that reached reached up to 70 kms).
FIRST 55 kms. The Judi-Dart was the
LAUNCHES first of the HASP (High Altitude The second Skua launch was
Sounding Projectile) rockets not as satisfactory as the first.
The launch site of El Arenosillo launched from El Arenosillo as Because of a mechanical fault
was given the go-ahead to begin part of the first CONIE-NASA in the launch ramp it lifted off
operating on 1 October 1966, and meteorological campaign. They on an unstable trajectory and
carried out its first launch under could be used to ascertain crashed a few hundred metres
PREPARING THE SITE. LAYING
OF CABLES AND FIRST
CONSTRUCTION. PHOTO SUPPLIED
BY ANTONIO GARCÍA LÓPEZ
23SPACE
OVER TIME
from the ramp. As it did so it passed suspended while a commission the causes. The launch ramp was
between the control centre and was set up of weapons experts redesigned and two test firings
radars, posing a big danger to the Victoriano López and Pedro were carried out at a British Army
site staff and visitors that day. Sánchez, technical engineer Luis base in the Outer Hebrides islands
Casado, and Mariano Vázquez off Scotland. Once these were
After what happened, activities at Velasco who was seconded to successfully completed, launches
the launch site were immediately the United Kingdom, to clarify restarted at El Arenosillo.
MAJOR
HIGHLIGHTS
After the first international presentation of data
from El Arenosillo, in Prague, hundreds of launches
were carried out. One of the major highlights that
now forms part of its history was the placing in
orbit of the satellite Intasat, the first from INTA
and also the first that Spain put into Space, as El
Arenosillo became one of the receiving points for A SPECIAL DAY:
scientific data. FIRST OFFICIAL
LAUNCH, ISDE
OCTOBER 1966
14 OCTOBER 1966, THE FIRST
SKUA ARRIVES ON SITE
14 OCTOBER 1966, ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST SKUA. FROM
LEFT: VICENTE CONTRERAS, FRANCISCO RABADÁN,
ADOLFO ABAD, ÁNGEL DELGADO, JOSÉ A. CORTÉS AND
JOSÉ MARÍA DORADO
24 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42“THE INSTALLATION IS STILL ACTIVE TODAY
AND HAS GAINED GREAT IMPORTANCE
FROM OTHER PROGRAMMES RUN BY
INTA AND THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE,
FUNDAMENTALLY STUDIES OF THE
ATMOSPHERE AND TRIALS OF UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT (RPA)”
UP TO
DATE
In 1994 El Arenosillo stopped operating as a launch during the third quarter of 2019. Its objective is to
base for survey rockets, at a time when the site provide scientific and commercial access to Space
was already being redirected towards new paths to from Spain.
ensure its continuity. The installation is still active
today and has gained great importance from other One of the centre’s most painful episodes
programmes run by INTA and the Ministry of Defence, happened in the summer of 2017 when a fire flared up
fundamentally studies of the atmosphere and trials in the area known as La Peñuela de Morguer, leaving
of unmanned aircraft (RPA). Under the new name nearly 8,500 hectares burnt and numerous cases
of Centro de Ensayos (Test Centre) de El Arenosillo of material and environmental damage in the area
(formerly CEDEA), it comes under the authority of the Doñana national park. It ended up affecting
of the Institute’s Sub-directorate of Aeronautical the installations at the Experimentation Centre at
Systems. El Arenosillo, especially the perimeter of the site,
its monitoring systems, and the electricty supply, as
Its latest activity includes one of the agreements well as burning various vehícles. It’s an episode from
signed between INTA and PLD Space which will which El Arenosillo has now recuperated.
enable the launch of the sub-orbital rocket MIURA
1 from the Experimentation Centre at El Arenosillo Guillermo Cayado
LAUNCH OF THE
INTA 300B
DRONE (TARGET) AIRCRAFT
25SPACE
OVER TIME
El Arenosillo:
A sentimental story
By Álvaro Azcárraga
As this is one of the most notable president and secretary general degrees at prestigious universities,
happenings in the history of Spanish went to two generals from the were picked to lead the project.
Space activity it is useful to look back Corps of Aeronautical Engineers: the The technical development of the
at how it all started. The agreements president of INTA, Rafael Calvo, and rocket went to Pedro Sanz, from
in 1958 with the recently created the director general of the institute, the departament of motive power,
NASA to establish tracking stations Antonio Pérez Marín. To understand and of the site to the author of this
on Spanish soil were undoubtedly this it must be remembered that at article, from INTA’s Department of
the first steps. But Spain wanted the time anything that flew came Equipment and Armament. The
more and it joined up with another under the jurisdiction of the Air director of the programme was the
10 European nations at the Meyrin Ministry, including the crop spraying aeronautical engineer, Luis Pueyo,
conference in 1960 for what would aircraft of the Ministry of Agriculture. one of the members of the Spanish
become the European Space The Scientific-Technical Committee delegation at Meyrin, where the
Research Organization and later the of CONIE took on the presentation European Space effort began.
ESA. of a first truly Spanish Space
programme, one that contemplated In the autumn of 1965, these two
At the same time the process setting up a launch site for survey engineers were accompanied by
began to set up a single point rockets and the development of an older one, Jorge Soriano, who
of command in the sector, one a rocket capable of reaching the gave an air of authority to his young
which led to the establishment of mesosphere with a reasonably sized companions. They made a journey
Spain’s National Space Research payload. Not unexpectedly, two along the coasts of peninsular
Commission (CONIE). This included young aeronautical engineers, not Spain (the islands were discarded
members from all sectors with long back from the United States because of the logistical costs and
an interest in Space. The posts of where they had obtained Masters the Mediterranean coast for the
VISIT TO NASA IN SEPTEMBER 1965: HAROLD
E. TOLEFSON OF THE LANGLEY RESEARCH
CENTER, ÁLVARO AZCÁRRAGA, JOSÉ MARÍA
GOYA AND PEDRO SANZ ARANGUEZ
26 MAGAZINE PROESPACIO No. 42mass tourism already building
up there.) They finally chose a
place in a national forest area
near the Pico del Loro hill, the El
Arenosillo gully and the beach
at Mazagón in the province of
Huelva. The unforseen incidents
and the subsequent negotiations
with the local authorities would
make for a much longer article
than this one. Suffice to say that
INTA ended up being the owner of
various hectares of land among
sand dunes 30 metres above
what was then an extensive yet
empty beach. Apart from the
scorpions, wasps and occasional
snakes, there wasn’t even a road.
It was now that the real Space
work began. Designing the site,
putting up defences, munitions 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF EL
ARENOSILLO, 1991: JUAN
stores, launch ramps, control
JOSÉ MARTÍN FRANCIA
centres, weather tower, canteens, AND LUIS GUITART
access. The buildings part was
carried out with the support of
the infrastructure section from
the air ordnance depot at Seville. with the Max Planck Institute in The launch site at El Arenosillo
The most important part, the Lindau, Germany, and with the was given the all clear for
laboratory for calibrating and NASA establishment at Wallops operations on 1 October 1966 and
electronics for the payloads, was Island, near Washington. carried out its first launch under
put up in three weeks by a team my directions on 15 October,
from the electronics section of This dual approach meant with great expectations and a
the Equipment and Armament they had to have two separate pleasing outcome. The doubling
Department at INTA, led by José launch teams to send out to up of launch teams finished a few
María Dorado. Years later he would prepare in the countries that weeks later when Álvarez de León
become the project director for were supplying the rockets. had to give up his post because
the first Spanish satellite. One went to the United States, of problems with his wife’s health
headed by Víctor Manuel Álvarez and I ended up responsible for
de León, and the other to the both.
“THE LAUNCH SITE AT EL ARENOSILLO
United Kingdom, led by me.
WAS GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR FOR
The American team also looked A command system was set
OPERATIONS ON 1 OCTOBER 1966
AND CARRIED OUT ITS FIRST after the radars, as they were a up under the Director of the
LAUNCH UNDER MY DIRECTIONS technology transfer from NASA Department, Guillermo Pérez del
ON 15 OCTOBER, WITH GREAT (They came from the time of Puerto, by the chief of the Flight
EXPECTATIONS AND A PLEASING the Korean War, and the Spanish Experimentation section, Luis
OUTCOME” technicians got an outstanding Martínez Carrillo.
performance out of them!)
At the same time they were Meanwhile, the European team After that first launch, using
negotiating to run various was occupied with the payloads, a Skua rocket that reached an
cooperative programmes for launch security, communications altitude of more than 60 kms,
research in the upper atmosphere and meteorology. two more were carried out with
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