Artemis acoustic testing

Testing the separation of the clamp band on the Artemis Flight Model in ESTEC's Large European Acoustic Facility (LEAF). Artemis will be attached to Japan's H2A launch vehicle via the conical adapter seen below the satellite here. Artemis (Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite) is planned for launch in early 2000 to demonstrate new telecommunications techniques. The L-band payload will allow 2-way communications between fixed Earth stations and land mobiles (trucks, trains and cars) in Europe and North Africa. Two payloads will provide communications directly between satellites, receiving data from low Earth-orbiting satellites and relaying them to Europe [Image Date: 1999/04] [99.03.010-075]