Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) subsidiary Dornier has completed integration of the development model of the European Space Agency's 11m-long, 4,000kg X-Ray Multi Mirror (XMM) telescope, due for launch on the Ariane 506 in August 1999. The 2m-wide craft, which has three identical mirror assemblies (pictured) containing 58 mirrors, will be tested at ESA's Dutch space research and technology centre in Noordwijk, to ensure that it meets its planned performance and that its sensitive instruments will withstand the loads of an Ariane 5 launch. The XMM has to point with a stability of 0.2 arc-sec over a 10s period during 40h observations.
Source: Flight International