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TEMEX actively involved in most of the scientific programs managed by the European Space Agency

With GOCE (March 2009), SMOS (November 2009) and soon CryoSat (February 2010), the TEMEX oscillators are present in the satellites critical applications of the ESA "Earth Explorer" program. This program is developed in direct response to the needs of the scientific community to improve our understanding of how the Earth system works. Breakthrough technologies are used in observation techniques and demonstrate how the industrial state-of-the art new space technologies significantly contribute to furthering our understanding of Earth system for the benefit of all with an immeasurable impact on our everyday lives in tomorrow's world.

The high performance and reliability of the TEMEX oscillators give them a very high frequency stability and make them extremely resistant to shocks and vibrations, which is necessary to withstand the harsh environments of the space applications and crucial for deriving accurate measurements.

November 2, 2009: SMOS, the second satellite of the ESA Earth program, has been successfully launched. Built by Thales Alenia Space, SMOS contains different kind of TEMEX oscillators, all essential to its good working. Simple crystal oscillator (XO), temperature control oscillators (TCXO) up to more complex oven controlled crystal oscillators (OCXO) are all present in the crucial applications of the satellite : the transponder, digital cards, the GPS receiver and the onboard calculator.

During 5 years SMOS will be studying the oceans salinity, the grounds humidity with an unequalled precision so as to better understand the water cycle and also to improve the weather forecasts, the climate knowledge and the extreme phenomena and crops forecasts.

March 17, 2009: GOCE, the first satellite of the Earth Observation Program, was launched with the aim to measure the Earth's gravity field. Again the TEMEX oscillators are in the transponder, which is a master piece for the good working of the satellite. GOCE has just completed its in-orbit commissioning and calibration phase, by successfully passing an in-flight test review last month. The satellite and the payload functionalities have been fully demonstrated and initial results from the first measurement campaign - initiated on September 15 and due to last through March 2010 - are already giving amazing results!

February 2010: Scheduled for launch in early 2010, the CryoSat-2 ice mission will be the third of ESA’s Earth Explorer satellites in orbit, following on from the GOCE gravity mission in March, and the SMOS water mission. As the effects of climate change are becoming apparent in polar regions, it is increasingly important to understand exactly how Earth’s ice fields are changing.

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