Pair of SAOCOM Earth Observation Satellites to Launch between 2012 & 2013Hawthorne, California – April 16, 2009 – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has signed an agreement with CONAE, Argentina's National Commission on Space Activity, for two launches aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 medium-to-heavy lift vehicle. The flights will send the SAOCOM 1A and 1B Earth observation satellites into sun-synchronous orbits, where they will provide imagery for natural resources monitoring, as well as emergency and disaster management.The identical SAOCOM satellites each carry an L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument. Among other civil applications, the main purpose of the constellation is the measurement of the soil moisture over the Pampa Húmeda in Argentina. The two SAOCOM satellites will join four X-band SAR COSMO-SkyMed satellites from the Italian Space Agency (ASI), creating the Italian-Argentine System of Satellites for Emergency Management (SIASGE) constellation. The first three of the ASI satellites were launched in 2007 and 2008 with the fourth expected to fly in 2010.“SpaceX is excited to be CONAE's launch service provider for the SAOCOM 1A and 1B missions,” said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. “The Falcon 9 launch vehicle has been designed to the highest level of reliability and performance; we look forward to helping ensure the success of the SAOCOM satellites.”The inaugural flight of Falcon 9 is scheduled for this year, with the first Dragon spacecraft scheduled to fly on a subsequent launch, both from SpaceX's launch facility at Cape Canaveral, Florida.About CONAECONAE (Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, or in English, National Space Activities Commission) is Argentina's civilian agency in charge of national space activities. They have launched three satellites to date, and have numerous joint space efforts with Argentine industry and academia, as well as governmental space agencies around the world, including NASA, CSA, AEB/INPE (Brazil), ASI, CNES, ESA and agencies of several other nations.
Professionals of the National Commission of Space Activities (CONAE), the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), and the companies VENG, INVAP and CEATSA / ARSAT finalized in Bariloche the electrical verifications and mechanical integration of SAOCOM 1A, the new Argentine observation satellite developed by CONAE together with national organizations and companies.The "body" of the satellite (the service platform) and the "eyes" with which the Earth will observe (the radar antenna) are communicated, with all interfaces correctly connected, in good condition and secure. Once the electrical integration was completed and after verifying the communication of the platform with each of the seven panels of the radar antenna, the mechanical integration of the SAOCOM 1A was completed. This week the first test of the deployment of the SAR antenna continues, starting the final testing stage of the satellite.
Per L2, SAOCOM 1A has slipped. Sunday Oct 7th local (Monday Oct 8th UTC) is currently the most likely option, but it could slip further. The T-0 will be similar.
Thursday is the backup date.https://twitter.com/CONAE_Oficial/status/1047661612189077505
Quote from: Michael Baylor on 10/04/2018 01:39 amThursday is the backup date.https://twitter.com/CONAE_Oficial/status/1047661612189077505For those who don't read spanish like me:"The launch of the Argentine satellite SAOCOM 1A changes its date considering Sunday 7 and Thursday 11 October as alternative dates. This modification was requested by the company SpaceX to continue with the tests to ensure a successful launch."
https://youtube.com/watch?v=vr_C6LQ7mHc
it was far brighter than I had expected.
