On March 14th, a major milestone was reached with the first power-on of the Biomass satellite, following the validation of the Electrical Ground Equipment (EGSE). Gathered in front of the spacecraft, the team watched as the electrical and functional engineers confirmed the successful power-ON.
This event marks the beginning of the Abbreviated Functional Testing (AFT), a crucial phase to verify the health of all satellite subsystems. As part of the process, the instrument’s functionality will also be assessed using a specialized test setup, including a large RF hood positioned in front of the transmitting antenna.
Shan Shanmugam, Airbus AIT electrical lead, captured the excitement of the moment: “Everything leading up to this point went flawlessly, but there was still a rush of adrenaline as we ran the power-on script.”
You may see the lamp above the power SCOE (Special Checkout Equipment) signaling that the satellite is powered-on, but to see the happy faces of the whole team ESA-Airbus is more obvious
And the ESA team posing for our official photographer, Shaf
… That is not how it happened, but would have been very funny 🎄😆
A tense silence filled the room until the confirmation came through: power-on successful.
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