What is KAP?
Kayser-Threde has recently developed a new autonomous experiment kit called KAP. KAP is a direct spin-off product out of Kayser-Threde’s Ariane 5 post projects and experience. The main idea is to use the available remaining payload capacity of the launcher to provide a flexible and low-cost test facility for scientific experiments and In-Orbit Demonstration of new technologies remaining attached to the launcher upper stage including the feature of separating CubeSats.

KAP is a fully autonomous kit providing the complete necessary infrastructure (power, data acquisition and telemetry) to minimize constraints and interactions with the launch vehicle increasing significantly the possibility for regular flight opportunities.

Two different mission scenarios are foreseen. One with KAP only working during the launcher mission itself (called short mission), the other referred to as medium mission to be switched on after upper stage passivation for up to 7 days in orbit. Different accommodations for KAP are foreseen in order to ease its integration in the entire European launcher family including Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega. KAP is either mounted on a dedicated mounting area provided by an auxiliary platform, or on an additional load carrying raising cylinder or on a test satellite. The technical concept for both mechanical and electrical subsystems for space segment and ground support equipment is mainly based on existing and space qualified technologies from the successful MAQSAT-B2 project and Kayser-Threde‘s participation in the sounding rocket programme TEXUS/ MAXUS. In particular the data acquisition and telemetry unit as back bone of the KAP experimental payload infrastructure is a direct adaptation from these programmes to the specific mission needs.

In January 2007 KAP entered Phase B with a co-funding from ESA in the frame of the GSTP-4 programme. A demonstration mission on Vega is scheduled end 2009. Additional flight opportunities on-board Soyuz / Fregat are envisaged beginning 2010. A precursor mission for CubeSat separation only is offered for 2008 on Soyuz / Fregat. A Call for Interest published in ESA EMITS News was issued in September 2007 in order to identify and select first launching customers.

Finally, the KAP programme is planned to have one flight opportunity per year on altering launchers depending on the flight opportunities availability and on the auxiliary payloads requirements (orbits, low-gravity, separation, etc.).

The 2nd KAP Customer Day marks the next step in the finalisation of the KAP programme towards the Demonstration Mission planned on-board Vega end of 2009 and future KAP missions.

The first day will be dedicated to the presentation of the system performances, configurations and interfaces with the launch vehicle in collaboration with the leaders of the European launch industry. A specific “Experiments Session” will be held on the second day together with potential customers in order to clarify the experiments’ interfaces.

Kayser-Threde together with Arianespace and the supporting national and European space agencies kindly invite all interested institutes, laboratories and companies to participate in the 2nd KAP Customer Day.

If you are interested in a flight opportunity with KAP, please fill out the Experiment Questionnaire and send it back to Kayser-Threde.