MTG SCAN MECHANISM PREDEVELOPMENT: DESIGN & PERFORMANCE

The MTG instruments are located on a new generation of GEO SC, 3 axes stabilized. The scanning of the Earth along the E/W and the S/N directions shall be ensured by the Scan Mechanisms located ahead the Instruments, corresponding to challenging pointing requirements. Key requirements are: scan angular velocity stability (accurate slope and low jitter), angular pointing restitution accuracy (angular pointing knowledge) and overall pointing position accuracy with respect to the commanded position. All these performances are in the µrad – or even sub µrad - range over a wide angular stroke, corresponding to challenging capabilities. In order to secure the MTG development on these topics, pre-development activities were initiated under ESA funding, one development was being completed by SENER under ASTRIUM prime contractor ship (France and finally Germany). SENER subcontracted CEDRAT for motor development and TNO as interferometer and optical consultant, meanwhile ASTRIUM subcontracted the encoder activity to CODECHAMP.