 | |
| Mission type | Earth observation Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | ISA/CNES |
| COSPAR ID | 2017-044B |
| SATCATno. | 42901 |
| Website | venus |
| Mission duration | 4.5 years[1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | ISA[2] |
| Manufacturer | IAI Rafael CNES |
| Launch mass | 265 kilograms (584 lb) (wet mass, of which 23 kg are fuel)[1] |
| Power | 800 watts[3] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2 August 2017 01:58:33[4] |
| Rocket | Vega |
| Launch site | Kourou |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous 2 dayEarth repeating |
| Perigee altitude | 720 km (first phase) / 410 km (second phase) |
| Apogee altitude | 720 km (first phase) / 410 km (second phase) |
| Inclination | 98.27 degrees[2] |
| Main | |
| Name | Ritchey-Chretien telescope[3] |
| Type | Cassegrain reflector |
| Diameter | 0.25m[3] |
| Focal length | 1.75m[3] |
| Collecting area | 50 special interest sites |
| Instruments | |
| Super Spectral Camera (VSSC),[2] Israeli Hall Effect Thruster (IHET)[3] | |
 VENμS Insignia | |
Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite (VENμS) is a near polarSun-synchronous orbitmicrosatellite. It is a joint project of theIsraeli Space Agency andCNES. The project was signed upon in April 2005[5] and was launched on the 2nd of August 2017.[4] The microsatellite, which was set to cost theISAUS$20 million andCNES€10 million, was designed and built byIAI andRafael under ISA's supervision.
For the mission, CNES is responsible for supplying the superspectral camera and the science mission center. TheISA is responsible for the satellite control center, the technological mission and payload (Israeli Hall effect Thruster and autonomous mission), thespacecraft, and the launcher interface.[2]
A joint study to check feasibility of the program was done in the first half of 2005. Phase A started in 2005 and upon completion, amemorandum of understanding was signed between theISA andCNES.[6] The satellite was originally planned to be launched in 2008;[5] however due to changes of the launchers and several delays, the launch date was pushed to 2 August 2017. It was launched via aVega launcher fromGuiana Space Centre together with Italian satelliteOPTSAT-3000.[7][8]
The satellite has a scientific and a technological mission. Scientific mission requirements were defined byCentre d'Etudes Spatiales de la BIOsphère,France, andBen-Gurion University of the Negev,Israel, andCNES.[2] Technological Mission requirement were defined byRafael.[9]
The satellite has a 2-day revisit orbit which allows constant viewing angles at constant Sun lighting angles. The unique combination is hoped to allow the development of new image processing methods. A set of at least 50 points of interest around the world were chosen to be scanned throughout the scientific mission. The points will be rescanned every 2 days for the entire duration of the mission where it will collect sensory and imagery data. Some of the objectives from the scientific mission are:
The satellite is equipped with a Super Spectral Camera comprises acatadioptric optical system, a focal plane assembly with narrow band filters, and 4 detector units with 3 separateCCD-TDI array. Each array with separate operational and thermal control.
The satellite is also equipped with aRitchey-Chretien telescope with a focal length of 1.75m and a diameter of 0.25m. The telescope's tube will be covered to protect it from pollution and dust which will deploy once in orbit.[3]
In addition to its scientific mission, the satellite has a technological mission. The satellite is equipped with Israelihall effect thrusters (IHET).[3] The mission is to demonstrate the thrusters' enhanced capabilities and autonomous mission operations which include:[10]
The technological mission is designed to use 16 kg of Xenon.
The satellite platform is based on theIsrael Aerospace Industries OPSAT 3000 satellite platform.[11] Venus satellite will have dual propulsion system: Hydrazine for orbit insertion and Xenon for the technological mission.
Venus satellite mass is 265 kg (wet), of which 16 kg are Xenon and 7 kg are hydrazine.
The satellite is ground controlled byIAI inIsrael; the Israel mission control is linked to two sub-stations in charge of each of the missions: The scientific mission is operated fromToulouse Space Center,France and the technology mission is controlled from the Technological Mission Center,Rafael,Haifa,Israel.[12]
Building the VENUS satellite,Israel Aerospace Industries,Ministry of Science, Technology and Space \Israel Space Agency May 2017, on YouTubeMeet the VENUS satellite,Ministry of Science, Technology and Space \Israel Space Agency, January 2017