DGA Hands Over Helios 2A Reconnaissance Satellite to Military
(Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued April 7, 2005)
(Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)
PARIS --- DGA, the French defense procurement agency, has handed over the Helios 2A reconnaissance satellite to the military staff of the three participating countries (Belgium, France and Spain). This entry into operational service follows the successful conclusion of the system’s in-flight acceptance.
Only a few days after its launch on December 18, 2004, the first images generated by Helios 2A were processed and submitted to France’s government authorities. This initial milestone was followed by the three-month acceptance phase, coordinated by the French space center (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, CNES) on behalf of DGA, during which various instruments were calibrated and this new-generation satellite demonstrated its full performance. Helios 2A was developed by EADS Astrium.
Thanks to the know-how and expertise deployed by the defense ministry, CNES and various European manufacturers, under the responsibility of EADS Astrium, Helios 2A provides the partner countries with the range of capabilities afforded by modern military observation satellites, including:
-- intelligence missions: observation of selected areas or specific installations; proliferation monitoring;
-- mission preparation: targeting information, evaluation of collateral damages and damage assessment after a strike;
-- mapping of previously unmapped areas, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, and preparation of digital ground maps to allow guidance of cruise missiles.
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