Page All:
Page 1
Terma to Head the ASIM Observatory for the International Space Station
LYSTRUP and HERLEV, Denmark, August 26, 2010-- The Danish high-tech company Terma is to head a European space project
with the objective to take measurements and make observations from the
International Space Station (ISS).
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100926/405945 )
The research project ASIM -The Atmosphere Space Interactions Monitor - is
an observatory that in 2014 will be placed at the exterior of the Columbus
module of the European part of the ISS.
ASIM will monitor and take images of the high altitude lightning that is
discharged from thunderclouds towards the conductive ionosphere stretching up
to altitudes of 90-100 km. The formations of lightning are known as "red
sprites", "blue jets", and "elves". The purpose is to study these phenomena
and learn about their impact on the atmosphere, e.g. if they affect the
concentration of water vapour, ozon and nitrogen oxides (NOx gasses)
important to the climate balance.
This is the first time, Terma is main contractor of space equipment on a
program for the European space organization ESA and at the same time it is
the largest Danish commitment in space since the 0rsted satellite.
At the beginning, the project was initiated from Denmark and in fase A
carried through as a study headed by the Danish National Space Center (now
DTU Space). In the next industrial phase B, Terma was responsible for the
specifications and design. The production phase (C) was initiated at the
beginning of August 2010 with expected launch and activation (phase D) in
2014.
Further to participating actively in the development of optical
instruments for the ASIM, Terma is also heading and coordinating the joint
activities from the participating countries and companies and is responsible
for the total program to ESA. Besides Denmark, Italy, Norway, Poland, and
Spain are also participating in the program.
DTU Space has an executive scientific role in the program and is to
supply one of the main instruments, the so-called MXGS Instrument, which is
to measure X-radiation from the lightnings. Furthermore, a number of Danish
companies participate as sub-suppliers.
Denmark has made an exceptional effort to ensure the project by entering
the program ELIPS - European Programme for Life and Physical Sciences - in
2008. In the same year, the political intention to strengthen Danish space
activities was confirmed by an appropriation from the European Globalisation
Adjustment Fund.
As mentioned, ASIM will be placed on the European laboratory module
Columbus. In 2014, Terma will supply the one cubic meter instrument unit to
Japan, where the ASIM will be launched from a Japanese rocket. The
transportation to the ISS and the installation is headed by the American
space organization NASA in cooperation with the Japanese space organization
JAXA.
The contract between ESA and Terma has a total value of 138 MDKK.
About Terma
Being a high-tech cooperation, Terma develops products and systems for
defense, non-defense, and security applications, including command and
control systems, radar systems, self-protection systems for aircraft, space
technology, and aeronautic structures for high-performance military aircraft.
Terma A/S is headquartered at Lystrup near Aarhus and maintains Danish
departments at Herlev and Grenaa. Terma has a worldwide total staff of 1,250
and realized a 2009/10 revenue of approximately 1.1 billion MDKK. For further
information about Terma, please visit http://www.terma.com.
For further information about Terma's space activities please contact
Senior Vice President Mr, Carsten J0rgensen, phone No. +45-2046-9650 or the
undersigned, Phone No. +45-2022-6091.
Yours sincerely,
Kasper Rasmussen
Corporate Vice President, Communication
kar@terma.com
Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100926/405945
Source: Terma
For further information about Terma's space activities please contact Senior Vice President Mr, Carsten J0rgensen, phone No. +45-2046-9650 or the undersigned, Phone No. +45-2022-6091. Yours sincerely, Kasper Rasmussen, Corporate Vice President, Communication, kar@terma.com
Terma to Head the ASIM Observatory for the International Space Station
LYSTRUP and HERLEV, Denmark, August 26, 2010-- The Danish high-tech company Terma is to head a European space project
with the objective to take measurements and make observations from the
International Space Station (ISS).
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100926/405945 )
The research project ASIM -The Atmosphere Space Interactions Monitor - is
an observatory that in 2014 will be placed at the exterior of the Columbus
module of the European part of the ISS.
ASIM will monitor and take images of the high altitude lightning that is
discharged from thunderclouds towards the conductive ionosphere stretching up
to altitudes of 90-100 km. The formations of lightning are known as "red
sprites", "blue jets", and "elves". The purpose is to study these phenomena
and learn about their impact on the atmosphere, e.g. if they affect the
concentration of water vapour, ozon and nitrogen oxides (NOx gasses)
important to the climate balance.
This is the first time, Terma is main contractor of space equipment on a
program for the European space organization ESA and at the same time it is
the largest Danish commitment in space since the 0rsted satellite.
At the beginning, the project was initiated from Denmark and in fase A
carried through as a study headed by the Danish National Space Center (now
DTU Space). In the next industrial phase B, Terma was responsible for the
specifications and design. The production phase (C) was initiated at the
beginning of August 2010 with expected launch and activation (phase D) in
2014.
Further to participating actively in the development of optical
instruments for the ASIM, Terma is also heading and coordinating the joint
activities from the participating countries and companies and is responsible
for the total program to ESA. Besides Denmark, Italy, Norway, Poland, and
Spain are also participating in the program.
DTU Space has an executive scientific role in the program and is to
supply one of the main instruments, the so-called MXGS Instrument, which is
to measure X-radiation from the lightnings. Furthermore, a number of Danish
companies participate as sub-suppliers.
Denmark has made an exceptional effort to ensure the project by entering
the program ELIPS - European Programme for Life and Physical Sciences - in
2008. In the same year, the political intention to strengthen Danish space
activities was confirmed by an appropriation from the European Globalisation
Adjustment Fund.
As mentioned, ASIM will be placed on the European laboratory module
Columbus. In 2014, Terma will supply the one cubic meter instrument unit to
Japan, where the ASIM will be launched from a Japanese rocket. The
transportation to the ISS and the installation is headed by the American
space organization NASA in cooperation with the Japanese space organization
JAXA.
The contract between ESA and Terma has a total value of 138 MDKK.
About Terma
Being a high-tech cooperation, Terma develops products and systems for
defense, non-defense, and security applications, including command and
control systems, radar systems, self-protection systems for aircraft, space
technology, and aeronautic structures for high-performance military aircraft.
Terma A/S is headquartered at Lystrup near Aarhus and maintains Danish
departments at Herlev and Grenaa. Terma has a worldwide total staff of 1,250
and realized a 2009/10 revenue of approximately 1.1 billion MDKK. For further
information about Terma, please visit http://www.terma.com.
For further information about Terma's space activities please contact
Senior Vice President Mr, Carsten J0rgensen, phone No. +45-2046-9650 or the
undersigned, Phone No. +45-2022-6091.
Yours sincerely,
Kasper Rasmussen
Corporate Vice President, Communication
kar@terma.com
Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100926/405945
Source: Terma
For further information about Terma's space activities please contact Senior Vice President Mr, Carsten J0rgensen, phone No. +45-2046-9650 or the undersigned, Phone No. +45-2022-6091. Yours sincerely, Kasper Rasmussen, Corporate Vice President, Communication, kar@terma.com