39088 - SAPPHIRE

SAPPHIRE is Canada's first operational military satellite, and its optical telescope will track other satellites orbiting Earth at higher altitudes, including objects in geosynchronous orbit. The 326-pound (148-kg) spacecraft was built by Surrey Satellite Technologies Ltd. under the authority of MDA Corp., Sapphire's prime contractor. The Canadian Department of National Defense plans to share Sapphire's tracking data with the U.S. Air Force, which monitors all objects in orbit.

Sapphire is a key element of the Canadian Space Surveillance System, and will be a contributing sensor to the US Space Surveillance Network. It is a space-based electrooptical sensor that will provide accurate and timely tracking data to the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) on manmade and natural objects in medium to high Earth orbits at orbit altitudes between 6,000 km and 40,000 km. The data collected will be processed by a ground-based system and the results will be used to update the U.S. Satellite Catalogue that is used by both NORAD and Canada to provide space situational awareness.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2013-02-25
Launch Vehicle: PSLV-CA
Launch Site: Sriharikota, India