UK-DMC 2

UK-DMC 2
Mission type Optical imaging
Disaster monitoring
Operator BNSC (2009-2010)[1]
UKSA (2010)
DMC International Imaging
COSPAR ID 2009-041C[2]
SATCAT № 35683
Mission duration 5 years (expected)
Spacecraft properties
Bus SSTL-100
Manufacturer SSTL
Launch mass 120 kilograms (260 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 29 July 2009, 18:46:29 (2009-07-29UTC18:46:29Z) UTC[3]
Rocket Dnepr
Launch site Baikonur 109/95
Contractor Kosmotras
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Sun-synchronous
Perigee 665 kilometres (413 mi)[4]
Apogee 667 kilometres (414 mi)[4]
Inclination 97.95 degrees[4]
Period 97.92 minutes[4]
Epoch 25 January 2015, 04:51:21 UTC[4]

UK-DMC 2 is a British 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 2 3 Krebs, Gunter. "UK-DMC 2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  2. ↑ http://celestrak.com/satcat/2009/2009-041.asp#C
  3. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "DMC 2 Satellite details 2009-041C NORAD 35683". N2YO. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 DMCii. "DMCii Newsletter" (PDF). DMCii. 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


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