VRSS 1 (Francisco Miranda)

Spacecraft nr:

Venezuelan spacecraft nr: 2

Launch data: Designation  38782 / 12052A Launch date  29 Sept 2012 - 04:12 UT Launch site  Jiuquan, SLS-2 Launch vehicle  CZ-2D (2) Mission  Government: Earth Observation, Remote sensing LEO Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  622 x 654 km Eccentricity  2,28E-03 Inclination  98.03 deg Period  97.48 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• VRSS-1 is Venezuela's first remote sensing satellite built by China, and once in operation it is expected to help the country monitor its territory, specifically helping it protect its environment, monitor disasters, estimate agricultural harvests and plan the urban environment. In 2012, it has been renamed Francisco Miranda.
• The VRSS-1 satellite is based on the CAST2000 bus developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), and will be carried into space on a CZ-2D (2) launch vehicle, developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. The satellite will be launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. China Satellite Launch & Tracking Control General Department will be in charge of the satellite launch control operations and CAST will be responsible for remote sensing satellite data acquisition and processing.
• VRSS-1 stands for Venezuela Remote Sensing Satellite, but the spacecraft is also named Francisco de Miranda in honor of Venezuelan revolutionary Sebastián Francisco de Miranda (1750-1816). It is Venezuela’s first remote sensing satellite. According to government officials, it will be used to support environmental management, urban planning, agricultural activity, climate and climate change monitoring and natural disaster management.
• Sensors can resolve objects 2.5 meters across. Will return 350 images per day for urban planning, monitor illegal mining and drug activities, national defense.

Mission details:

• China launched a CAST-2000 class remote sensing satellite into a 621 x 654 km x 98.0 deg, 1030 LTDN sun-synchronous orbit on Sep 29, 2012. The satellite, `Venezuela Yaogan Weixing yi hao' (Venezuela Remote Sensing Satellite 1) was purchased by Venezuela and is named by them `Miranda', after Sebastian Francisco de Miranda Rodriguez 'El Precursor' (1750-1816). It should not be confused with the UK's Miranda satellite launched in 1974 (named after the character in Shakespeare's Tempest).