SAR-Lupe system placed safely in orbit

Berlin, Germany, 21 December 2006 - The first German reconnaissance satellite in the SAR-Lupe system was successfully placed in orbit on December 19. The Russian Cosmos 3M launch vehicle took off on schedule from the Russian Plesetsk space station, placing the first of a total of five radar satellites in its low orbit at an altitude of around 500 km. The four other satellites will be launched in intervals of four to six months.

Alcatel 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 defense forces starting in 2007.

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. SAR-Lupe will be forming part of the European Reconnaissance System.

It will provide image in X-band and offer a spatial resolution of less than 1 meter. It may operate in "spot light" mode to improve the spatial resolution. Alcatel Alenia Space was 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.

Satellite control is currently in the hands of the German Space Agency DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. The ground station of the German Armed Forces in Gelsdorf is tracking the satellite at the same time and will assume operative responsibility for it in mid January, at which point in time it will start collecting SAR radar images.

- About SAR-Lupe system
SAR-Lupe system SAR-Lupe is Germany's first satellite-based reconnaissance system. It comprises five identical small satellites and a ground segment for managing the satellites and receiving and processing the radar images. As the principal contractor of the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB), OHB-System developed the overall system and oversaw a consortium of well-known European space technology companies.

The first German radar satellite was transported to the Russian launch pad at the beginning of December after undergoing extensive testing at the Ottobrunn satellite testing center.

Source : http://www.financial.de