Pléiades-1B

Pléiades-1B
Type:	Earth observation satellite
Country:	France , Italy
Operator:	CNES ,
Mission dates
Dimensions:	970 kg
Begin:	December 2, 2012
Starting place:	Center Spatial Guyanais
Launcher:	Soyuz-2.1a
Flight duration:	5 years
Status:	active
Orbit data
Track height:	694 km

Pléiades-1B is an Italo-French Earth observation satellite . Together with its twin Pléiades-1A , it is part of the Orfeo satellite program .

Missions

Studies for the satellites began in September 2000, and actual development began in October 2003. Pléiades-1B was launched on December 2, 2012 by the Center Spatial Guyanais with a Soyuz-ST missile .

Structure and payload

The three-axis stabilized satellite is equipped with a camera with a primary mirror diameter of 65 cm, which achieves a resolution of 50 cm for color or black-and-white images and a resolution of 2 m for multispectral photos. The recordings are made by five line sensors with a width of 1500 pixels for multispectral and five line sensors with a width of 6000 pixels for the panchromatic area. The satellites and their orbits were designed in such a way that together they can record every area of ​​the earth at least once a day. It was built by Thales Alenia Space and has a planned lifespan of five years.

Technical specifications

The satellite has a hexagonal basic structure and is equipped with three solar cell arms. The gallium arsenide solar cells deliver around 1500 watts and are supported by lithium-ion batteries. The cameras deliver data at 450 Mbits / s, with a 600 Gbit memory available on board. The stabilization is done with star sensors and gyros.

Web links

• CNES: Pleiades (English / French)
• Astrium: Pleiades
• PLEIADES-HR IMAGE SYSTEM PRODUCTS AND QUALITY (PDF; 218 kB)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ RIA Novosti: Soyuz-ST launcher launches European satellite Pleiades 1B into orbit
2. ↑ raumfahrer.net: Soyuz brings satellite sextet into space
3. ↑ CNES: PLEIADES HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE