RazakSAT
RazakSAT
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| Operator | ATSB |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 2009-037A |
| SATCAT no. | 35578 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | Instruments: 50 kilograms (110 lb) Total: 180 kilograms (400 lb) |
| Power | 300 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 14 July 2009, 03:35 UTC |
| Rocket | Falcon 1 |
| Launch site | Omelek |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 667 kilometers (414 mi) |
| Apogee | 691 kilometers (429 mi) |
| Inclination | 8.910 degrees |
| Period | 98.20 minutes |
| Epoch | 25 January 2015, 03:33:28 UTC |
| Main camera | |
| Name | Medium-sized Aperture Camera (MAC) |
RazakSAT is a Malaysian Earth observation satellite carrying a high-resolution camera. It was launched into low Earth orbit by a Falcon 1 rocket on 14 July 2009. It was placed into a near-equatorial orbit that presents many imaging opportunities for the equatorial region. It weighs over three times a much as TiungSAT-1 and carries a high resolution Earth observation camera. Developed in conjunction with Satrec Initiative, the satellite's low inclination orbit (9 degrees) brought it over Malaysia a dozen or more times per day. This was intended to provide greatly increased coverage of Malaysia, compared to most other Earth observation satellites. An audit report released in October 2011 revealed that the satellite had failed after only 1 year of operation.
This satellite is Malaysia's second remote sensing satellite after TiungSAT-1.
Originally called MACSAT, RazakSAT's payload is mainly electro-optical, carrying a Medium-sized Aperture Camera (MAC) which is a pushbroom camera with five linear detectors (one panchromatic, four multi-spectral) weighing approximately 50 kg. The entire satellite weighs at about 180 kg.
SpaceX launched RazakSAT at 03:35 UTC on 14 July 2009 using a Falcon 1 rocket. This was the fifth flight of a Falcon 1, and like the previous flights lift-off was from Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll. At 05:25 UTC Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, told a reporter the launch had been a success. "We nailed the orbit to well within target parameters...pretty much a bullseye." Musk said.
RazakSAT's mission plan was carried out by engineers from ATSB.
This was especially important because Malaysia is usually covered by the equatorial cloud bands. Normal sun-synchronous optical satellites, which may re-visit an area only once every 7 days, will almost never be able to see the ground during their pass. As a result, much optical satellite imagery of Malaysia have more than 50% cloud cover within the image's footprint.
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