Development and verification of a high-performance CFRP structure for the space-borne lidar instrument ALADIN

The paper gives an overview of the development of a high-performance space structure achieving an optimum combination of mass, stiffness and stability to cope with the very stringent performance requirements of ALADIN instrument, the space-borne LIDAR built for ADM-AEOLUS ESA’s Earth Explorer Mission. Kayser-Threde has been contracted in 2003 by EADS Astrium Toulouse, ALADIN instrument Prime Contractor, for the Phase C/D of ALADIN Structure PFM. The contract with ASF comprised the detailed design, development, verification, PMP qualification, and MAIV program including ALADIN Structure qualification using a complete and fully representative STM.