RapidEye launch successful

The five-satellite RapidEye Earth observation constellation was successfully launched onboard a Dnepr rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan at 0715 UT on Friday 29th August.

SSTL in Guildford, UK, designed and built the spacecraft bus, the spacecraft control centre and performed the spacecraft assembly integration and test. MDA's subcontractor Jena-Optronik GmbH of Jena, Germany, designed and built the imaging payloads.

Project manager Ben Stocker commented: "The simultaneous launch of five satellites is not without its challenges. Commissioning will be performed from both the RapidEye ground station in Brandenburg and the SSTL mission control centre in Guildford. The five satellites will gradually disperse from each other following separation from the launch vehicle, allowing three satellites to be tracked and operated from Brandenburg with the remainder under the control of the Guildford operators.

"This method of operation offers the most efficient route to achieving the maximum amount of contact time per satellite during the early days of commissioning following launch. As the satellites are gradually manoeuvred into position around the orbit during the commissioning phase, the Brandenburg ground station will assume full control over the constellation."

Following separation from the launch vehicle, the spacecraft activated three GaAs solar panels, generating up to 105W in sunlight. The operators communicate with the five RapidEye satellites using frequencies in S-Band.

SSTL - RapidEye constellation launched successfully http://www.sstl.co.uk/News_and_Events/
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RapidEye
http://www.rapideye.de/