BelKa 2

Spacecraft nr:

Belarus spacecraft nr: 2

Launch data: Designation  38708 / 12039B Launch date  22 July 2012 - 06:41 UT Launch site  Baik, LC-31/6 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-FG / Fregat Mission  Government: Remote sensing, Imaging LEO Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  505 x 510 km Eccentricity  3,64E-04 Inclination  97.49 deg Period  94.77 min

Spacecraft data:

Assembly of the space head unit has been completed.

Description:

• BelKa is a Belarusian remote sensing satellite analogue of the Canopus-B, that replaces the BelKa 1 satellite lost in an launch failure.
• The resolution up to 2.1 m and four spectral channels of the target-oriented equipment allow for national economic tasks to the benefit of MINECONOMRESURS, Ministry of Natural Resources, Federal Geodesy and Cartography Service, EMERCOM, etc. In addition to key tasks the spacecraft will enable scientific and applied researches in the Earth and atmosphere remote sensing.
• The tasks to be fulfilled by BelKa 2 are:
  • Mapping (topographic and geodesic applications, government geodesic supervision);
  • Cadastral account of estate property;
  • Development of large building projects including gas and oil pipelines, railways, hydropower stations;
  • Geological investigations and conservation of mineral resources;
  • Environment monitoring including monitoring of forest fires and man-made emissions, glaciers and agricultural sector objects, etc.;
  • Monitoring of forest condition;
  • Monitoring of water bodies.

Mission details:

• Delayed from March 22, 2012.
• On Jul 22, 2012 Roskosmos launched a Soyuz-FG/Fregat into polar orbit with a cluster of small satellites.
• BelKA-2 is a Earth imaging satellites built by VNII Elektromekhaniki, for the Belorussian Academy of Sciences. The satellite carry 2-meter-resolution camera.