RazakSAT

RazakSAT is a Malaysian Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite that is currently (as of October 2008) scheduled to be launched on board a Falcon 1 sometime in early 2009.

Background

This satellite is Malaysia's second remote sensing satellite after TiungSAT-1 which was launched in September 26, 2000 on a Russian Dnepr rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. RazakSAT and the Falcon 1 will launch from a US military base in Kwajalein Atoll; one of many small islands of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific.

Originally called MACSAT, RazakSAT's payload is mainly electro-optical, carrying a Medium-sized Aperture Camera (MAC) which is a pushbroom camera with five linear detectors (one panchromatic, four multi-spectral) weighing approximately 50kg. The entire satellite weighs at about 180kg.

The then-Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad renamed the satellite to RazakSAT in tribute to the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak or known as the "Bapa Pembangunan Malaysia" for his contribution towards Malaysia's development. This was held officially during Mahathir's working visit to Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. (ATSB) in 2003 at its premise in Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. It has since moved to its new premises at Hicom-Glenmarie Industrial Park, Shah Alam, Selangor. ATSB is a wholly-owned company of the Minister of Finance Inc. (MOF), Malaysia.

Operations

RazakSAT's mission plan will be carried out by engineers from ATSB. Control operations will be conducted through ATSB's ground station in Shah Alam, Selangor consisting of a Mission Control Station (MCS) and Image Receiving and Processing Station (IRPS). Two other Malaysian ground stations would be able to communicate with the satellite as well; the Remote Sensing Malaysia groundstation in Temerloh, Pahang and the Malaysian National Space Agency groundstation in Banting, Selangor.

The IRPS will receive and archive images for post processing and distribution to the users. The development of the RazakSAT system is a collaborative programme between ATSB and Satrec Initiative Co. Ltd, Republic of Korea.

RazakSAT is unique as it will be the first microsatellite of its class to be placed at Near equatorial orbit (NEqO); unlike many other satellites of its kind that are placed on Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). However, the challenge would be launching the satellite in its intended orbit as not many launchers are adaptive for NEqO.

Specifications

External links

*http://www.atsb.my
*http://www.razaksat.com/razaksat.asp
*http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/macsat.htm
*http://www.asmmag.com/ASM/content/2006/ASM_032/main_news_5.html