SPACEWAR
Successful Launch Second German Sar-Lupe Observation Satellite

illustration only
by Staff Writers
 Cannes, France (SPX) Jul 03, 2007
 The second SAR-Lupe satellite, part of the German observation system, was successfully boosted into orbit yesterday from the Plesetsk space centre by a Russian Cosmos-3M rocket at 21:38:41 hours CEST. SAR-Lupe provides high-resolution images of the ground 24 hours a day to the German Ministry of Defence. Thales Alenia Space has supplied the Sensor Electronic units forming the core of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), set to provide high-resolution radar imagery to the German defence forces.

The SAR-Lupe program, which has a life-time of 10 years, comprises a constellation of five identical small satellites (720 kg - 250 W) which will be positioned into 3 quasi polar orbital planes at 500 km altitude, and a ground segment.

The construction and the launch contract of the five satellites was awarded in 2001 to a consortium of 13 European companies led by OHB-System AG as prime contractor.

The first SAR-Lupe satellite was launched on December 19, 2006. It is supplying high-resolution images and is operating very successfully and reliably. Three more SAR-Lupe spacecraft are scheduled for launch at intervals of four to six months until the constellation is completed in 2008.

This mission is based on the most sophisticated technologies in SAR radar field, able to get images under any weather or light conditions (day or night).

The system will supply recent and high definition images of virtually any region in the world. It will provide image in X-band and offer a spatial resolution of less than 1 metre. It may operate in "spot light" mode to improve the spatial resolution.

Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the design and development of the Sensor Electronic Units, comprising radiofrequency, processing and control sub-units.

The ground segments for SAR-Lupe and the French Helios II systems will be inter-connected, so that each country can use the other's satellite and receive imagery. This data combination will significantly improve the reconnaissance capabilities of the two partner nations.

Community
 Email This Article
 Comment On This Article
Related Links
 Sar-Lupe Observation Satellite at OHB-System
 Military Space News at SpaceWar.com

SPACEWAR
Lockheed Martin-Led Team Completes Integrated Baseline Review For Space Radar
 Denver CO (SPX) Jun 29, 2007
 The Lockheed Martin Space Radar team has successfully completed on-schedule an Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) with the U.S. Air Force, an important program milestone that precedes the System Requirements Review. Space Radar is being developed to provide global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) for the military and intelligence community.
SUPERPOWERS
  • US And Russia Begin Nuclear Reduction Talks
  • Eyeing The Shanghai Group In 2007
  • Russia Warns NATO Over European Security As Topol Nuke Production Ramps Up
  • US Ready To Work On New Treaty To Replace START Treaty

    • NUKEWARS
  • Missiles In Kaliningrad
  • Mixed Signals From Iran
  • Interpreting Nukes In Japan
  • Russia Threatens Missile Deployment But US Shrugs Off Threat As Not Constructive

    • MISSILE NEWS
  • Lockheed Martin Receives 18 Million USD For Low Cost Reduced-Range GMLRS Practice Rockets
  • North Korea Tests New Missiles As Inspectors Head To Nuclear Reactor
  • General Dynamics To Demonstrate Ground-Based Counter-MANPADS Aircraft-Protection Technology
  • Kalam Asks BrahMos Developers To Work On Mark-II Version

    • MISSILE DEFENSE
  • Boeing Could Build Missile Base In Poland
  • Japan PM Seeking Leeway To Shoot Down Missile For US
  • US Wants To Go It Alone On Missile Defense
  • Poland Sees US Missile Shield Deal By October; As Russia Beefs Up Kyrgyzstan Base

    • AEROSPACE
  • Europe Bans All Indonesian Airlines From EU Airspace
  • Too Little Scope For Development Of Current Aircraft Technology
  • France Supports Cap On Airline Carbon Emissions
  • F-35 Lightning 2 Pushing Ahead On All Fronts

    • UAV NEWS
  • Puma Small UAS Achieves Record Flight Time Using Fuel Cell Battery Hybrid System
  • Predators Reach Quarter-Million Flight Hours
  • Boeing Demonstrates Autonomous Command And Control Of Multiple UAVs
  • Northrop Grumman Hunter Clocks Up 50000 Hours Flight Time

    • IRAQ WARS
  • Senate Will Not Sway Bush On Iraq
  • The Iraqi Refugee Disaster
  • Grim June For US Casualties In Iraq
  • Stress Hits US Workers In Iraq

    • MILTECH
  • Raytheon Wins Whole-Life Support Contract For Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment Systems
  • Sandia Supports Development Of New US Army Cannon System
  • NGC Lab To Develope Prototype For Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System
  • Raytheon-Led Warrior Training Alliance Wins US Army Warfighter FOCUS Program

    • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement