Summary
Alsat-1B is an Algerian satellite operated by the Agence Spatiale Algerienne for agricultural and disaster monitoring.[2][3] The contract for the mission was signed in July 2014. The satellite is based on the SSTL-100 bus. The satellite weighs 103 kilograms (227 lb) and carries an Earth imaging payload with 12-metre (39 ft) panchromatic imager and 24-metre (79 ft) multispectral cameras.[4][2]
| Mission type | Earth observation |
|---|---|
| Operator | Algerian Space Agency |
| COSPAR ID | 2016-059C |
| SATCAT no. | 41785 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | SSTL |
| Launch mass | 103 kilograms (227 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 26 September 2016, 03.44:00 UTC |
| Rocket | PSLV-C35[1] |
| Launch site | Sriharikota |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Regime | Sun synchronous |
| Periapsis altitude | 700 kilometres (430 mi) |
| Apoapsis altitude | 700 kilometres (430 mi) |
| Inclination | 98 degrees |
| Period | 98.5 min |
Construction edit
The satellite had high participation from ASAL, with eighteen engineers that worked on assembly, integration, and test. Additionally, at the University of Surrey, 18 students used the satellite as a part of their graduate degree research.[2]
Launch edit
The satellite was launched on 26 September 2016 into a 670-kilometre (420 mi) altitude polar orbit by ISRO using the PSLV-C35 rocket.[5] It was launched with several other satellites. The primary payload was SCATSAT 1, which was launched into a Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. This was the first time PSLV launched satellites into different orbits. Algeria had three satellites that it will operate launch in that group, which were AlSat-1B, AlSat 2B, and AlSat-Nano. AlSat-2B also had imaging capabilities, but they are higher resolution than AlSat-1B. Of the eight satellites launched by PSLV, five of them were foreign. The remaining satellites were BlackSky Pathfinder 1, Pratham, PISat, and CanX 7.[3][4]
Alsat-1B uses three body mounted solar panels for power generation, and a 15 Amp-hour Li-Ion battery for power storage. It uses warm gas, butane powered resistojets for propulsion.[3] The attitude control system uses Sun sensors and magnetometers.[6]
References edit
- ^ a b "Mission". Surrey Satellite Technology Limited. Archived from the original on 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
- ^ a b c "Alsat-1B satellite mission". Surrey Satellite Technology Limited. 2014-07-10. Archived from the original on 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ a b c "AlSat 1B". Gunter's Space Page. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ a b Graham, William (25 September 2016). "ISRO PSLV conducts SCATSAT-1 launch". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ "PSLV-C35 launch: Double orbit satellite deployment boosts ISRO's commercial prospects". The Indian Express. 1976-09-27. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ "AlSat-1B". Spaceflight101.com. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
