AlSAT-1, the first of a five-microsatellite constellation,
has been successfully launched today for SSTL’s Algerian
customer, CNTS.

The launch, into a 700km sun-synchronous orbit onboard a
Kosmos 3-M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern
Russia, took place on schedule at 06:07hs GMT today in
thick snow and temperatures around ?20 C.

This is Algeria’s first satellite and marks the country’s
commitment to participating in space and international
co-operation. AlSAT-1 also initiates the launch of the first
ever microsatellite constellation dedicated to disaster
monitoring. AlSAT-1 will be joined in orbit by a further
four Surrey-built microsatellites to be launched in mid-2003.

AlSAT-1 encompasses the latest in small satellite technology
from SSTL, providing extremely wide swath (600km) 32-metre
multispectral imaging and 1 GByte solid state recorders for
high capacity onboard storage of image data and transmission
to ground at S-band. With just a single satellite in orbit
it is possible to image the same area anywhere in the world
at least every four days. When the complete constellation
is operational it will provide a daily imaging revisit
capability worldwide — a major factor for disaster relief
agencies. The remaining four microsatellites are also being
built at SSTL in collaboration with Nigeria, Turkey and the
UK.

At the launch site, the CEO of SSTL (Prof Sir Martin
Sweeting) and the Director of CNTS (Dr Azzedine Oussedik)
observed the lift-off and were able to relay the countdown
‘on-line’ to SSTL and CNTS staff in Guildford (UK) and
Arzew (Algeria). Dr Oussedik said: “Algeria is proud to
join the community of space faring nations and to have this
opportunity by working with Surrey and the UK to achieve our
first satellite in orbit. This project has trained Algerian
specialists to bring the benefits of space to our nation and
its people.” Speaking in the sub-zero arctic temperature,
Sir Martin said: “SSTL is proud to achieve a successful
launch for our Algerian customer and at the same time mark
the 21st Surrey satellite in orbit. The UK, Algerian and
Russian teams worked extremely well together to achieve
today’s launch — the first DMC mission in the international
constellation”.

Some 30 minutes after launch, the AlSAT-1 spacecraft was
released into orbit, and 3 hours later the CNTS command
station in Algeria activated the satellite and started the
process of commissioning it for full operation.

Pictures available at:
http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/AlSAT_integration.jpg (66KB)
and
http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/Kosmos_raised.jpg (49KB)