Astrium UK Selects GNAT Pro For Environmental Satellite System

Sentinel-1 is the first of five families of satellites being developed for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) program.

GMES, a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA), is designed to support a sustainable European information network by monitoring, recording and analyzing environmental data and events around the globe. The Sentinel-1 project is scheduled to be completed in October 2011.

This instrument provides high-resolution satellite images by extending radar capabilities to penetrate forests and scrub to reach the ground, and registering any movements or changes on the Earth's surface within a resolution down to 5 meters.

Astrium in the UK will use GNAT Pro to implement the Application Software for the SAR Electronics Sub-system which is used to control Sentinel-1's C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).

As part of the project, AdaCore will also port the GNAT Pro for LEON development environment to the Sensor Electronics Sub-system (SES) on-board computer, enabling compliance with the ESA's stringent ECSS-E-40B and ECSS-Q-80B space engineering and product assurance standards. The LEON2 processor was commissioned by ESA and designed specifically for use in satellite systems.

"Sentinel-1 is a large-scale project that promises to deliver superior environmental monitoring capabilities," said Paul Southwood, software technical engineer, Sentinel-1 Onboard Software project, Astrium (UK).

"We selected Ada based on its reliability and reusability and its strong track record in space applications. We also wanted a development partner that could provide the knowledge, flexibility and responsiveness to meet our specific needs and tight timescales.

"Astrium has worked with AdaCore on a number of successful satellite and space projects, including the TerraSAR-X, which was the first German radar satellite for Earth observation. This experience combined with company's partnership approach and support capabilities made AdaCore the perfect choice for the Sentinel-1 project."

"AdaCore has a long and successful history in the space industry," said Jose Ruiz, AdaCore's team leader on the GNAT Pro Sentinel-1 port. "We are pleased that Astrium in the UK has chosen GNAT Pro as its language technology solution for Sentinel-1, and we look forward to providing a product that will fully meet their project's requirements."