Mission type | Earth observation and reconnaissance |
---|---|
Operator | Government of Morocco |
COSPAR ID | 2017-070A (A) 2018-095A (B) |
SATCAT no. | 43005 (A) [1] 43717 (B) [2] |
Mission duration | 5 years (planned) 5 years, 8 months, 30 days (elapsed; A) 4 years, 8 months, 17 days (elapsed; B) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Mohammed VI-A Mohammed VI-B |
Spacecraft type | Observation satellite |
Bus | Astrosat-1000 |
Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space Thales Alenia Space [3] |
Launch mass | 1,110 kg (2,450 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | November 8, 2017 (A) November 21, 2018 (B) |
Rocket | Vega |
Launch site | Guiana Space Centre ELA-1 |
Contractor | Arianespace |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Semi-major axis | 7,106 km (4,415 mi) (A) [1] 7,106 km (4,415 mi) (B) [2] |
Periapsis altitude | 644.8 km (400.7 mi) (A) 644.6 km (400.5 mi) (B) |
Apoapsis altitude | 646.5 km (401.7 mi) (A) 646.7 km (401.8 mi) (B) |
Inclination | 97.9° |
Period | 97.5 minutes |
Mohammed VI |
The Mohammed VI satellites are a series of two Moroccan Earth observation and reconnaissance satellites, namely Mohammed VI-A and Mohammed VI-B, developed and built by Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space based upon the Astrosat-1000 satellite bus. They are Morocco's first optical imaging satellites, and are operated by Morocco's Ministry of Defense, with an expected service life of 5 years. [4] They are named after Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco. [5]
Both satellites are based on the Astrosat-1000 satellite bus. [5] They have a launch mass of 1,110 kg (2,450 lb) and have three deployable solar arrays, and an expected service life of around 5 years. [6]
The satellites have four hydrazine thrusters for reboosting its orbit and keeping its altitude. [6]
The Mohammed VI-A satellite, Morocco's first spy satellite, was launched on Vega flight VV11 on board the Vega launcher from Guiana Space Centre ELA-1, French Guiana, on November 8, 2017. It was launched to low Earth Sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 97.9°. [1] [4]
The Mohammed VI-B satellite, Morocco's second spy satellite, was launched a year later on Vega flight VV14 from Guiana Space Centre ELA-1, French Guiana, on November 28, 2018. It was launched to Low Earth Sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 97.9°. [2] [5]
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