The European satellite company encamped at Canadore College’s Aviation Campus in North Bay recently concluded the first phase of flight tests of a new technology designed to deliver small satellites into orbit.
Swiss Space Systems (S3) spent a week conducting drop-tests at Jack Garland Airport to assess the performance of a special avionics, drone system and instrumentation package for its SOAR project.
The Payerne, Switzerland-based firm is developing a reusable suborbital rocket-powered vehicle called the SOAR shuttle which is designed to carry and launch satellites of up to 250 kilograms from its payload bay.
Using drone technology, the unmanned shuttle will be delivered to high altitudes by piggybacking aboard a modified Airbus A300 jet.
In the North Bay test, all the flight system components were packed into container that was suspended by a helicopter flying at an altitude of 3,800 metres. The flight support and release jig structure used in the drop-tests was made by North Bay Machining Centre.
According to a Canadore College news release, seven local companies and the school’s aviation faculty have participated or made contributions to the project.
A new round of testing is scheduled for next spring in North Bay when a small mock-up of the SOAR shuttle will drop-tested from an altitude of nearly 5,000 metres.
In a statement, Robert Feierbach, head of S3 Americas, said the test results are very encouraging.
“As a team, we had the opportunity to successfully test our telecommunication and guidance systems, and to collaborate closely with the Canadore College and North Bay Jack Garland Airport teams. This bodes well prior to the forthcoming drop-test flights aimed to take place next spring.”
Canadore College president George Burton is already looking forward to the 2015 test campaign.
“These operational activities will enable Canadore to strengthen our technical and logistical expertise in flight test operations with an international scope, as this one demands.”
