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The European Space Agency’s Genesis space observatory marks a major leap forward in our ability to precisely define the shape, rotation and gravitational field of our planet with millimetric detail. SPACEBEL will be bringing our expertise in terms of space segment software to this precise Earth measurement mission.

About Genesis

The Genesis mission’s aim is to generate a more accurate, up-to-date global model of Earth – the so-called International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) – capable of measuring changes as small as 1 mm and detecting ground movements as subtle as 0.1 mm per year. This leap in precision will significantly enhance applications in navigation, such as improving the accuracy of the Galileo satellite system and, by extension, refining the orbit determination of all other space missions.  Furthermore, a wide range of Earth sciences will benefit from this evolution, e.g. meteorology, climate change monitoring, natural hazard prediction, land management and surveying, sea level monitoring, …

The importance of the Genesis goal is also stated in a United Nations resolution.

As part of ESA’s FutureNAV programme, Genesis will be the first mission to simultaneously combine the four major geodetic (i.e. Earth measuring) techniques on a single satellite to be launched in 2028: 

• Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)
• Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR)
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
• Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS).

By synchronising and cross calibrating these instruments, Genesis will identify and correct systematic errors inherent to each technique. This innovative approach will significantly improve the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF).

About SPACEBEL & Genesis

As part of the industrial consortium team led by prime contractor OHB Italia, SPACEBEL plays a key role in the mission’s success with the development and delivery of the Central Software (CSW) and the Software Validation Facility (SVF) for the Genesis spacecraft.

Building on proven heritage from the Hera and Comet-I missions, SPACEBEL is maximising software reuse while ensuring robustness, reliability and performance. The Central Software is a critical element of the spacecraft, enabling the coordination of onboard systems and instruments, while the Software Validation Facility ensures thorough verification and validation throughout development.

Through our contribution to the Genesis satellite, SPACEBEL is proud to support a mission that is setting a new global Earth reference frame standard for the sake of bettering navigation and Earth observation applications.