ESR Space is proud to announce that it has recently been awarded a contract from OHB System AG. The contract entails the design, analysis, and prototyping of the Aperture Door Mechanism (ADM) for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Vigil PMI (Photospheric Magnetic Imager) instrument.
The Vigil mission represents a significant endeavour in solar observation, aiming to provide crucial insights into solar activity and its potential impacts on Earth. Positioned at the gravitationally stable Lagrange 5 point, approximately 93 million miles from Earth, the Vigil spacecraft offers a unique vantage point for studying the sun.
One of the key components of the Vigil PMI instrument is the Aperture Door Mechanism, which plays a vital role in protecting delicate instrument components from contamination or damage during both launch and ground operations. Once in position at Lagrange 5, the ADM will open, allowing the PMI instrument to commence its mission of making precision scientific measurements of the “side” of the sun.
This initiative is promising to advance our understanding of solar phenomena and enhance space weather forecasting capabilities. By providing real-time measurements of potentially hazardous solar weather heading towards Earth, the Vigil mission contributes to space safety and fosters scientific exploration.
For those interested in learning more about the Vigil mission and the PMI instrument, additional information can be found on the ESA website [1] and the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research website [2].
Look out for further updates on the progress of the Aperture Door Mechanism project as we work towards its expected release.
[1] ESA Vigil Mission: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Vigil
[2] Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research PMI: https://www.mps.mpg.de/pmi
