VesselSat 1

Spacecraft n°:

Luxembourg spacecraft n°: 20

Launch data: Designation  37840 / 11058C Launch date  12 Oct 2011 - 05:31 UT Launch site  Sriharikota, FLP Launch vehicle  PSLV-CA Mission  Commercial: Communications (Technology?) Sun-synchronous LEO Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  847 x 868 km Eccentricity  1,45E-03 Inclination  19.97 deg Period  102.09 min

Spacecraft data: Prime manufacturer  OHB LuxSpace (Luxembourg) Platform   Operator  ORBCOMM Inc. Mass at launch  29 kg Dry Mass   kg Basic shape   Dimension (m)   Equipment  AIS receiver Solar array  Solar cells Stabilization   Propulsion   DC power   Design lifetime  Still active

Vesselsat 1 before launch - Credit: ISRO

Description:

• VesselSat is a constellation of three microsatellites to provide spacecraft-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) sensors in low-Earth orbit as a means of tracking maritime assets.
• A delevopment version of the Luxspace AIS-receivers has been tested before on the Rubin-9.1 (AIS-Pathfinder 2) payload.
• VesselSat is a 29 kg small satellite built by OHB LuxSpace of Luxembourg to provide AIS (ship tracking) services for Orbcomm.
• Automatic Identification Service (AIS) enabled satellite - expected to expand the coverage of ORBCOMM's satellite AIS service in the equatorial region, where there is significant shipping activity and critical need for maritime surveillance.