Telescope structure for the ESA mission CO2M in front of the Earth

New case study: Connova builds the telescope structure for ESA’s CO2M climate mission

How much carbon dioxide actually comes from human activity, and from where? The Copernicus mission CO2M is set to answer this question from orbit. Together with Thales Alenia Space Switzerland, Connova AG developed, manufactured and qualified the telescope structure for the mission. Our new case study shows how.

A structure no one will ever see in orbit

From an altitude of around 735 kilometers, three CO2M satellites will deliver the data needed to verify climate targets independently. For these measurements to succeed, the optical instrument on board must retain its exact shape for the entire mission: under launch loads, in vacuum and through thousands of thermal cycles. This is made possible by a composite telescope structure that no one will ever lay eyes on once it is in orbit.

Qualified CO2M telescope structure from Connova AG for ESA Earth observation
View into the CO2M telescope structure with the mounting points of the optical components

Accurate to hundredths of a millimeter

At Connova, engineering, production and quality assurance work under one roof. That kept lines of communication short throughout every project phase, from the initial concept evaluation to the qualified assembly. A few steps from the case study:

  • We compensated for the spring-in of the composite parts at the design stage. As a result, the laminated parts were manufactured within a form tolerance of 0.2 mm.
  • Specially developed precision bonding jigs were used for assembly and bonding.
  • All mounting points for the mirror optics were CNC-machined in a single setup. The result: positional accuracy down to 0.02 mm at the optical interfaces.
  • Using representative coupons, we characterized the mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of the materials and assessed the outgassing behavior of all materials.

“The success of this project is built on the close interplay between our departments and on our partnership with Thales Alenia Space Switzerland. Thanks to continuous exchange across all project phases, we were able to reliably translate complex requirements for precision, materials, processes, and qualification into a flight-ready structure.”

Sebastian Preiss, Head of Engineering, Connova AG

Read the full case study

Project data, images and your point of contact are on the CO2M telescope structure project page. There you can download the full case study as a free PDF in English or German. You will find more projects in our case study overview and under composites for space.

Title page of the case study "CO2M Telescope Structure for ESA Earth Observation" as a PDF
View case study

At a glance

  • Program: ESA Copernicus CO2M
  • Customer: Thales Alenia Space Schweiz AG
  • Connova’s scope: design, material procurement, manufacturing, assembly and qualification
  • Key figures: positional accuracy down to 0.02 mm at the optical interfaces, 0.2 mm form tolerance of the laminated parts
  • Contact: Taylan Toprak, Head of Sales & Project Management

The project leading to these results was carried out under a programme of, and funded by, the European Space Agency. The views expressed in this publication can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.