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Ready for testing electromagnetic compatibility
At the University of Bern, the CHEOPS team integrated all electrical and electronic parts into a model of the space telescope to test whether the different units and wires operate correctly and don’t...
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How to build a space telescope
In the next months, engineers at the University of Bern will assemble the CHEOPS space telescope integrating parts arriving from all over Europe. CHEOPS, the CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite, is...
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CHEOPS will ride on a Soyuz rocket
Cheops will be launched on a Soyuz from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The image shows the first Soyuz launch from Kourou, in 2011. (Credit: ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE/Optique Video Du CSG) Now...
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Telescope mirror safely delivered to Bern
At the end of April 2017, an eagerly-awaited cargo from Italy arrived at the University of Bern: the telescope flight model of CHEOPS. The incoming inspection carried out on 3 May 2017 showed that the...
View ArticleAssembling the flight model
After the engineers at the University of Bern integrated and tested models of the CHEOPS space telescope, they are now working on the hardware that will actually be sent into space. In the clean room...
View ArticlePreparing the CHEOPS spacecraft platform and simulating mission operations
In our previous update, we reported on the delivery of the CHEOPS telescope from Florence to Bern. While the scientific payload is being assembled in Switzerland, work in Spain has focused on preparing...
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Successful vibration test runs
During ten days in August 2017, the CHEOPS telescope had to withstand various tests on the shaker at the University of Bern simulating the conditions during the launch with a Soyuz rocket. The...
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CHEOPS children drawings engraved
Our campaign to collect CHEOPS children drawings is completing a major milestone as the first plaques have been engraved. The article tells the story of their production and illustrates the beautiful...
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The history of CHEOPS
Engineers at the University of Bern are developing the CHEOPS space telescope. From Earth´s orbit, this telescope is supposed to measure the diameter of exoplanets which are light-years away from us...
View ArticleSimulating stars in the cleanroom
The silver-coloured cylindrical unit in the foreground is the optical head of one of two star trackers, mounted on the hexagonal top panel of the CHEOPS spacecraft platform for this specific test. The...
View ArticleControlling the CHEOPS instrument during interface testing
Airbus engineers use the Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) to relay instructions to the telescope instrument via the spacecraft platform. The post Controlling the CHEOPS instrument during...
View ArticleIt’s getting real: testing flight hardware with mission control code
With the flight models of the CHEOPS spacecraft and telescope maturing, crucial tests can now be run with real hardware in place of simulations. The latest such tests involved operating the payload...
View ArticleEMC testing
The CHEOPS flight instrument is assembled and being prepared for EMC testing in the next weeks. The post EMC testing appeared first on CHEOPS.
View ArticleCHEOPS Xmas
CHEOPS flight instrument in the EMC test chamber at the EMC Testcenter Zürich. The CHEOPS team wishes everyone Merry Christmas and a happy new year 2018! The post CHEOPS Xmas appeared first on CHEOPS.
View ArticleCHEOPS calibration bench
The CHEOPS calibration bench is being prepared to calibrate the instrument. At present, the cover is being installed onto the optical bench to block out stray light contamination. Calibration will...
View ArticleCHEOPS telescope passed acceptance vibration
The CHEOPS telescope has passed the final acceptance vibration. The team performing the vibration test proudly standing in front of the telescope which is still mounted on the shaker. It is protected...
View ArticleCHEOPS telescope sits inside the thermal vacuum chamber
The CHEOPS telescope sitting inside the thermal vacuum chamber being photographed through the optical window. Currently the CHEOPS instrument is undergoing the last thermal test cycle which will be...
View ArticleThe bench cover installation
The bench cover installation has been completed with UGE. This was the last step before starting the CHEOPS calibration activities. The post The bench cover installation appeared first on CHEOPS.
View ArticleFirst flat field images
First flat field images have been taken during CHEOPS calibration campaign. This flat filed has been taken at the wavelength of 400nm. The post First flat field images appeared first on CHEOPS.
View Articlea point source (so-called PSF) has been determined over the full CHEOPS field...
This week the image of a point source (so-called PSF) has been determined over the full CHEOPS field of view. The telescope is defocussed on purpose to spread the light of one star over many pixels....
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