Alsat-1B
| 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 |
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]
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.
 Agence Spatiale Algerienne (ASAL) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satellites |
| ||||||
| Launch centers |
| ||||||
| Institutions | |||||||
| Astronomy | |||||||