Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Over the past year, satellite engineers at Redwire Space in Belgium have been hard at work assembling European Space Agency’s ozone-monitoring satellite, ALTIUS. The team has now passed a major milestone: testing the deployment of the satellite’s two solar panels, a critical step in preparing it for life in orbit.
The deployment test verified that the panels unfold smoothly from their stowed launch configuration and lock securely into place, ensuring structural stability and optimal orientation toward the Sun. Such tests are essential, as the solar arrays are compactly folded to fit inside the rocket and can only be deployed once in orbit.
Read full story: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius/Testing_ozone-monitoring_satellite_s_solar_wings
Credits: Redwire Space
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/03/Testing_ALTIUS_solar_panels
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Our main YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions
Over the past year, satellite engineers at Redwire Space in Belgium have been hard at work assembling European Space Agency’s ozone-monitoring satellite, ALTIUS. The team has now passed a major milestone: testing the deployment of the satellite’s two solar panels, a critical step in preparing it for life in orbit.
The deployment test verified that the panels unfold smoothly from their stowed launch configuration and lock securely into place, ensuring structural stability and optimal orientation toward the Sun. Such tests are essential, as the solar arrays are compactly folded to fit inside the rocket and can only be deployed once in orbit.
Read full story: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Altius/Testing_ozone-monitoring_satellite_s_solar_wings
Credits: Redwire Space
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/03/Testing_ALTIUS_solar_panels
★ Subscribe: bit.ly/ESAsubscribe and click twice on the bell button to receive our notifications.
Our main YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions
