Artemis and Alenia integration team

ESA's Artemis satellite with its Alenia Aerospazio integration team in the ESTEC Test Centre. The Flight Model is seen here during vibration testing. Artemis (Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite) is planned for launch in early 2000 on Japan's H2A vehicle 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] [99.04.013-032]