Series

The programme aims to develop and qualify a spacecraft bus available for the 2015-2025 period. This product line will offer a platform for scientific, defence and industrial applications. As per for the first-generation Myriade bus, low cost, adaptability to a range of mission needs and fast-track scheduling, are the main drivers of the Myriade-Evolutions programme.

After a study phase in 2011-2012 geared towards satellites in the 250-kg class, the project was rescoped to cover satellites in the 400-kg class.

The flight domain has been redefined to cover probable missions over this period: Earth observation and monitoring, Sun and space observation (from low Earth orbit - LEO) and defence. These led to specify an orbital range of 500 to 800 km altitude, and a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) for all local time of ascending node (LTAN). The specified in-orbit lifetime is 7 years.

The programme encompasses all the specifications of the bus and its components, as well as product development and qualification to meet performance requirements. The Myriade-Evolutions programme will be compliant with CNES' ISIS Standard to ensure satellite operability by the ISIS Command and Control Centre. The development of necessary simulators and databases for application missions is part of the programme.

This programme is being funded through the Space budget line component of the PIA future investment plan.

The first spacecraft bus will be built in 2017 for Merlin mission, a joint CNES-DLR mission, to measure methane concentration in the atmosphere.