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Mohammed VI (satellites)

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(Redirected from Mohammed VI-A) Moroccan Earth observation and reconnaissance satellites
Mohammed VI
Mission typeEarth observation and reconnaissance
OperatorGovernment of Morocco
COSPAR ID2017-070A (A)
2018-095A (B)
SATCAT no.43005 (A)
43717 (B)
Mission duration5 years (planned)
7 years, 1 month, 11 days (elapsed; A)
6 years, 28 days (elapsed; B)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftMohammed VI-A
Mohammed VI-B
Spacecraft typeObservation satellite
BusAstrosat-1000
ManufacturerAirbus Defence and Space
Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass1,110 kg (2,450 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateNovember 8, 2017 (2017-11-08) (A)
November 21, 2018 (2018-11-21) (B)
RocketVega
Launch siteGuiana Space Centre ELA-1
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Semi-major axis7,106 km (4,415 mi) (A)
7,106 km (4,415 mi) (B)
Periapsis altitude644.8 km (400.7 mi) (A)
644.6 km (400.5 mi) (B)
Apoapsis altitude646.5 km (401.7 mi) (A)
646.7 km (401.8 mi) (B)
Inclination97.9°
Period97.5 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. They are named after Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco.

Design

Satellite bus

Both satellites are based on the Astrosat-1000 satellite bus. 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.

Propulsion

The satellites have four hydrazine thrusters for reboosting its orbit and keeping its altitude.

Launch

Mohammed VI-A

Main article: Vega flight VV11

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°.

Mohammed VI-B

Main article: Vega flight VV13

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°.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Technical details for satellite MOHAMMED VI-A". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  2. ^ "Technical details for satellite MOHAMMED VI-B". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  3. "Mohammed VI A, B (MN35-13)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  4. ^ "Moroccan Image Reconnaissance Satellite Sent into Orbit by European Vega Rocket – Vega VV11 | Spaceflight101". 8 November 2017. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  5. ^ Clark, Stephen. "Moroccan spy satellite launched aboard Vega rocket – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  6. ^ "Mohammed VI A, B (MN35-13)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
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Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ).
Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
← 2017Orbital launches in 20182019 →
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ).
Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
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