VRSS-2 (Antonio José de Sucre)

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• VRSS-2 is a Venezuelean Earth-observing surveillance satellite, that will be used to aid security forces, emergency responders, farmers, and health professionals. The VRSS-2 spacecraft (the second Venezuela Remote Sensing Satellite) weighs about one metric ton, or 2,200 pounds, and is designed for a five-year lifetime. The satellite was manufactured by DFH Satellite Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

Mission details:

• The second Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite, VRSS-2, also named Antonio Jose de Sucre (or just Sucre for short) was launched on Oct 9 into a sun-synchronous orbit in the 1030 local time plane by China for ABAE, the Bolivaran Agency for Space Activities and MPPEUCT (Ministry of People′s Power for University Education, Science and Technology). The satellite was built in China and uses the CAST-2000 bus; it has a mass of 942 kg. It is named after the revolutionary general and president of Bolivia and Peru, Antonio Jose de Sucre (1795-8130). In Chinese it is known as 'Venezeula Yaogan Weixing er hao'.

External links:

• Satellite tracking (n2ya.com): Real time satellite tracking