37791 - RASAT

RASAT, an Earth Observation satellite, was launched from Yasny on 2011 August 17 at 07:12 UT by a Dnepr rocket. The satellite weighed 93 kg and was the first Earth observation satellite designed and built in Turkey. It is intended to replace the BILSAT 1 satellite which ceased operations in 2006.

RASAT carries a multispectral imager with a resolution of 15 m and a panchromatic imager with a resolution of 7.5 m. RASAT is designed for a three-year life in space. Its primary objectives are to advance Turkish space technology and know-how and observe natural and manmade disasters, monitor coastline changes and pollution, detect illegal settlements and urban land changes, and update existing maps.

The initial orbital parameters were period = 98.41 minutes, apogee = 697.8 km, perigee = 667.9 km, inclination = 98.3 degrees on 2011 Sep 5 at 05:17:09 UTC.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2011-08-17
Launch Vehicle: Dnepr
Launch Site: Yasni, Russia
Mass: 93.0 kg