Similar Perth International Telecom, Redu Station, Troll Satellite Station, Cebreros Station, Svalbard Satellite Station | ||
Santa Maria Island Station (also known as SMA or Montes das Flores, Hill of Flowers) is an ESTRACK satellite ground station in Azores, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the town of Vila do Porto on the island of Santa Maria.
Station currently operates 5.5m S-band antenna capable of receiving signals in 2200-2300 MHz range, the first one in ESTRACK network with launch tracking capability. It covers a large portion of Atlantic ocean and during Ariane 5 launches it acquires signals until the upper stage engine cut-off. Future upgrade for SMA will include X-band antenna working in range of 8025-8400 MHz.
Construction of the station was completed in January 2008 under Ariane Development Programme in agreement between ESA and Portuguese government. A reason for building additional station was tracking of the medium inclination Ariane 5 launches and upcoming Vega along with Soyuz from Guiana Space Centre. The first launch tracked by newly build site was Ariane 5 ES flight V-181 lifting Automated Transfer Vehicle Jules Verne in March 2008.
When not used for launch tracking station is used in CleanSeaNet and MARISS service for Copernicus Programme