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COROT
enters fine-pointing mode
02/06/07
One
month after successful launch, and about two weeks after the
release of the first image of the sky, the COROT satellite
successfully entered in 'fine pointing' mode.
The
fine-pointing configuration was uploaded on 24 January 2007 after
the activation of the seismology channel, and uses the satellite
telescope as a 'super' star sensor. This will allow COROT to
precisely target stars and perform astero-seismologic
observations (probing stars interiors).
The optical performances of the
seismology channel prove to be excellent, both in terms of shape
and stability of the image spots, with a distortion incredibly
close to the on-ground modelling performed before launch.
Inside the images collected to
calibrate the seismology channel, COROT detected a junk object -
a piece of a Delta 1 rocket launched in 1984. This has left on
the COROT's camera sensors (CCD) a small smear visible in the
middle of the stellar field. The movement of the object inside
the CCD image fits well with the trajectory elements computed on
ground.
These and all the delicate
operations of verification and in-orbit calibration of the COROT
satellite also including a program of calibrations
relative to the instrument line of sight performed from 18 to 23
January - have been mastered by the satellite teams at CNRS
(Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en
Astrophysique (Observatoire Paris Meudon) and at Laboratoire
d'Astrophysique de Marseille (Observatoire Astronomique de
Marseille Provence).
Source
/ Credit: ESA
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