In the HERMELIN project, the hot fire test of a VISERION hybrid rocket engine in Trauen is to be recorded with a small satellite for forest fire detection. In addition, an infrared camera identical to the one in the satellite will take pictures on the ground, which will improve the characterisation of the IR radiation arriving at the satellite.
In addition to the feasibility analysis of whether the satellite's simple sensor technology with a ground pixel resolution of over 150 m can detect the engine's exhaust gas jet from orbit, the main focus is on the organisation and coordination of the engine test with the satellite's operations team: the processes and findings from the field experiment will enable efficient repetitions in the future. To this end, regular tests with solid propellant thrusters are to be carried out once the engine test facility has been refurbished. Coordination with the space segment can create added value for research into missile detection and the early warning system.
