Engineering:UK-DMC 2

From HandWiki
UK-DMC 2
Mission typeOptical imaging
Disaster monitoring
OperatorBNSC (2009-2010)[1]
UKSA (2010)
DMC International Imaging
COSPAR ID2009-041C[2]
SATCAT no.35683
Mission duration5 years (expected)
Spacecraft properties
BusSSTL-100
ManufacturerSSTL
Launch mass120 kilograms (260 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date29 July 2009, 18:46:29 (2009-07-29UTC18:46:29Z) UTC[3]
RocketDnepr
Launch siteBaikonur 109/95
ContractorKosmotras
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Perigee altitude665 kilometres (413 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude667 kilometres (414 mi)[4]
Inclination97.95 degrees[4]
Period97.92 minutes[4]
Epoch25 January 2015, 04:51:21 UTC[4]
 

UK-DMC 2 is a United Kingdom Earth imaging satellite which is operated by DMC International Imaging.[5] It was constructed by Surrey Satellite Technology, based on the SSTL-100 satellite bus.[1][5] It is part of Britain's contribution to the Disaster Monitoring Constellation, which is coordinated by DMC International Imaging. It is the successor to the UK-DMC satellite.

Mission

UK DMC-2 was launched into a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit. The launch was conducted by ISC Kosmotras, using a Dnepr carrier rocket, with DubaiSat-1 being the primary payload. UK-DMC 2, along with the Deimos-1, Nanosat 1B, AprizeSat-3 and AprizeSat-4 satellites, were the rocket's secondary payload. The launch occurred at 18:46 GMT on 29 July 2009, with the rocket lifting off from Site 109/95 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The satellite has a mass of 120 kilograms (260 lb)[1] and a design life of five years. It carries a multi-spectral imager with a resolution of 22 metres (72 ft) and 660 kilometres (410 mi) of swath,[6] operating in green, red and near infrared spectra.

The satellite is also known as Blue Peter 1, and its construction and launch were followed by children's television.[7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Krebs, Gunter. "UK-DMC 2". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/uk-dmc-2.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  2. http://celestrak.com/satcat/2009/2009-041.asp#C
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt. Retrieved 21 January 2014. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "DMC 2 Satellite details 2009-041C NORAD 35683". N2YO. 25 January 2015. http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=35683. Retrieved 25 January 2015. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 DMCii. "DMCii Newsletter". DMCii. http://www.dmcii.com/pdf/DMCii_newsletter_Aug2009.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
  6. SSTL Mission Page
  7. Kids in Space, NERC press release, 31 July 2009.

Kids in Space from The National Archive

See also