UK-DMC 2
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 type | Optical imaging Disaster monitoring |
|---|---|
| Operator | BNSC (2009-2010)[1] UKSA (2010) DMC International Imaging |
| COSPAR ID | 2009-041C[2] |
| SATCAT no. | 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 UTC[3] |
| Rocket | Dnepr |
| Launch site | Baikonur 109/95 |
| Contractor | Kosmotras |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Perigee altitude | 665 kilometres (413 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 667 kilometres (414 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 97.95 degrees[4] |
| Period | 97.92 minutes[4] |
| Epoch | 25 January 2015, 04:51:21 UTC[4] |
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
- Krebs, Gunter. "UK-DMC 2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- http://celestrak.com/satcat/2009/2009-041.asp#C
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "DMC 2 Satellite details 2009-041C NORAD 35683". N2YO. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- DMCii. "DMCii Newsletter" (PDF). DMCii. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
- SSTL Mission Page
- Kids in Space, NERC press release, 31 July 2009.