On this picture Artemis is integrated in one of CSG’s clean rooms. The ion propulsion system is composed of thrusters aside the satellite.

Carrying three payloads plus a number of experiments, Artemis (Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite is being developed for testing and operating new telecommunications techniques.

The L-band mobile payload allows two-way voice and data communications, via satellite, between fixed Earth stations and land mobiles - trucks, trains or cars - anywhere in Europe and North Africa.

Artemis carries two payloads for communications directly between satellites, which received data from low-Earth-orbiting satellites and transmit them directly to Europe:

-a laser-optical relay terminal called SILEX

-a double S/Ka-band terminal called SKDR

Artemis was launched in July 2001 on an Ariane 5 launcher.