19 Dec 2012

Direct link to this RFI web page: http://sci.esa.int/CHEOPS-RFI

The CHEOPS (CHaracterizing ExOPlanet Satellite) mission is dedicated to search for planet transits by means of ultrahigh precision photometry on bright stars already known to host planets. The mission was selected by the Science Programme Committee (SPC) in October 2012 as the first small mission (S1 mission) in the ESA Science Programme for a nominal launch in 2017. It is envisaged as a partnership between the ESA Science Programme and Switzerland, with a number of Member States delivering significant contributions to the space segment development and operations. The Member States' contribution is led by the University of Bern (UBE) and includes in particular the science payload, which is funded by a consortium of Member States.

ESA is the Mission Architect and in charge of the platform procurement and spacecraft development, with contributions from SSO/UBE. The objective of the present Request For Information (RFI) is to collect preliminary information from potential providers of small platforms in ESA Member States, in preparation for the corresponding Invitation to Tender planned early 2013. The platform procurement would be based on a design-to-cost approach featuring low risks and a reliable development schedule.

Documentation

The RFI documentation package can be downloaded from the dedicated section in the right-hand menu and includes:

• The RFI for the provision of the platform for the CHEOPS small mission
• System Requirements Document (SRD)
• Star Tracker Interface Control Document (summary)
• Instrument Interface Control Document (summary)
• Space-to-Ground Interface Control Document (summary)
• Environmental Specifications (ES)
• Mission Analysis Guidelines (MAG)
• Internal Final Presentation of the CHEOPS CDF study (IFP)

Information delivery

The information package in response to this RFI shall be sent by e-mail to the following addresses:
nicola.randoesa.int, helena.bybergesa.int, frederic.safaesa.int