RapidEye 3

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• The satellite, part of RapidEye constellation, weighing about 330 pounds [150 kilograms] at launch, will spend more than seven years circling the planet downloading more than 1.5 million square miles [390 million hectares] of imagery per day, according to RapidEye. The constellation will produce color imagery with a resolution of about 21 feet [6.5 meters], but RapidEye officials say the system will be differentiated by rapid response and timely products for the agriculture industry.

Mission details:

• Kosmotras has launched a Dnepr rocket carrying five commercial imaging satellites for RapidEye AG of Brandenberg. The satellites have a moderate resolution imager (around 6 meter resolution) to provide rapid response data products for agricultural applications like storm damage assessment.
• Dnepr launches result in two objects cataloged in orbit together with the payloads, one in the payload delivery orbit and one in a much more elliptical orbit. One object is the launch vehicle upper stage, which unusually is mounted above the payloads, reflecting its heritage as a missile MIRV bus; the second object is a 'gas dynamic shield' below and covering the payloads, which is ejected once orbit is reached.
• The upper stage separates in a posigrade (forward) direction, with thrust continuing after payload separation. Therefore, we can assume that the eccentric orbit object is the rocket stage and the low orbit object is the plume shield. In STRATCOM's satellite catalog, names assigned to the objects agree with this assessment for most Dnepr launches, but 2006-029 and 2007-028 have the objects swapped. For the RapidEye launch, object 2008-40H is the rocket stage, in a 617 x 1350 km orbit; while 2008-040G is probably the plume shield, in a 598 x 631 km orbit similar to the RapidEye payloads.
• The five RapidEye satellites have been given Greek names: Tachys, Mati, Choma, Choros, and Trochia, allegedly meaning Rapid, Eye, Earth, Space, Orbit respectively.