Regulatory Filings • Mar 30, 2009
Regulatory Filings
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Egide today announces the success of the solutions employed on the two Astrium Spirale satellites placed into orbit by Ariane 5 on 12 February 2009.
Egide was appointed for this project by pyrotechnic solutions specialist Lacroix Defence & Security due to its mastery of reliable complex soldering for a critical part of the system. Contributing its unique technical know-how in the area of soldering technologies to Lacroix Defence & Security's expertise enabled the two satellites' solar panels to deploy as planned.
On this mission, a pyrotechnic system was used to open both satellites' solar panels. This technique has advantages over mechanical systems (actuators) in terms of smaller bulk (volume) and mass. The Pyrosoft system developed by Lacroix Defence & Security also reduces the shock level caused by the opening of the panels and thus avoids any risk of damage.
With this new procedure the solar panels therefore remained folded inside the satellite fairing until the proper time prior to the firing of the system, which enabled them to be deployed as planned.
The soldering method used on these assemblies is a very delicate one. Egide has long-established mastery of sophisticated soldering techniques for other applications.
On this mission the complexity lay in mastering the soldering conditions and the deposits on the metal parts in order to produce a quality weld able to keep the panels closed initially inside the fairing of the launch vehicle, itself subjected to a severe environment (considerable vibration, thrust, etc.) and then, in the second stage, to allow them to deploy following firing.
The Pyrosoft system developed by Lacroix Defence & Security using Egide's know-how is an extremely promising one.
By combining their know-how, the two groups are thus targeting a very dynamic market. The system, used in this case for the French military sector, can in fact be utilized to deploy solar panels or communications antennae on any type of satellite.
Philippe Brégi comments: "We are proud to have been involved in the development of a tool like this and to have combined Egide's knowhow with that of Lacroix Defence & Security. This type of device opens up a market with tremendous potential for Egide, which is already well established in the space sector."
He adds: "The example of the successful putting into orbit of these two satellites is also interesting in that it highlights Egide's important role in the space industry. As well as our involvement in the Pyrosoft system, a number of Egide products are used both in satellites and in launch vehicles: from the electronic packages used for satellite data processing and communication with the ground, to the ceramic connectors in the infrared imagery collecting system, for instance, and from the packages used to manage the satellite's power and those that protect the launch vehicle destruction system circuitry if a problem occurs during the launch, to the gaskets in Ariane 5's Vulcain engines."
Egide SA is a European group of international status specializing in making hermetic packages for sensitive electronic components. The group is active on high-tech markets such as Space, Defense, Security, Aeronautics, Telecommunications, Automotive and Medical. As the only dedicated global player, Egide has an industrial presence in France, the United States, the UK and Morocco.
Find out all about Egide: www.egide.fr
EGIDE is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris™- Compartment C ISIN: FR0000072373 – Reuters: EGID.PA – Bloomberg: GID
Egide renewed its OSEO – ANVAR status as an innovative enterprise on 14 September 2006 ISO 14001:2004 certified Environmental Management System
Contacts EGIDE – Finance Department - Philippe Lussiez - +33 1 30 68 81 00 - [email protected] FIN'EXTENSO – Press Relations - Isabelle Aprile - +33 1 39 97 61 22 - [email protected]
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