Mohammed_VI-A

Mohammed VI (satellites)

Mohammed VI (satellites)

Moroccan Earth observation and reconnaissance satellites

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]

Quick Facts Mission type, Operator ...

Design

Satellite bus

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]

Propulsion

The satellites have four hydrazine thrusters for reboosting its orbit and keeping its altitude.[6]

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°.[1][4]

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°.[2][5]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Technical details for satellite MOHAMMED VI-A". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  2. [2]
    "Technical details for satellite MOHAMMED VI-B". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  3. [3]
    "Mohammed VI A, B (MN35-13)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  4. [4]
    "Moroccan Image Reconnaissance Satellite Sent into Orbit by European Vega Rocket – Vega VV11 | Spaceflight101". 8 November 2017. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  5. [5]
    Clark, Stephen. "Moroccan spy satellite launched aboard Vega rocket – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  6. [6]
    "Mohammed VI A, B (MN35-13)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Mohammed_VI-A, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.