UK-DMC

UK-DMC or UK-DMC 1, also known as BNSCSAT-1, was a British satellite that formed part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC). It was built by Surrey Satellite Technology, who operated it via DMC International Imaging on behalf of the British National Space Centre and later the UK Space Agency. It was launched alongside other DMC satellites on 27 September 2003, and retired from service in November 2011.

Mission

As well as carrying remote sensing imaging sensors, the satellite also carries experimental payloads: the CLEO Cisco router in Low Earth Orbit, an experiment demonstrating GNSS reflectometry, and a water resistojet propulsion system. The UK-DMC demonstrated the first use of the Interplanetary Internet in space. In November 2010, nearing the end of its operational life, UK-DMC was placed into a lower orbit.

Deactivation

After 8 years in orbit, daily operations of the satellite ceased in November 2011. Operations have been taken over by the satellite's successor, UK-DMC 2.

UK-DMC 2

UK-DMC 2 is a British Earth imaging satellite which is operated by DMC International Imaging. It was constructed by Surrey Satellite Technology, based on the SSTL-100 satellite bus. It is part of Britain's contribution to the Disaster Monitoring Constellation, which is coordinated by DMC International Imaging. It is the successor to the UK-DMC satellite.

Mission

UK DMC-2 was launched into a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit. The launch was conducted by ISC Kosmotras, using a Dnepr-1 carrier rocket, with DubaiSat-1 being the primary payload. UK-DMC 2, along with the Deimos-1, Nanosat 1B, AprizeSat-3 and AprizeSat-4 satellites, were the rocket's secondary payload. The launch occurred at 18:46 GMT on 29 July 2009, with the rocket lifting off from Site 109/95 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The satellite has a mass of 120 kilograms (260 lb) and a design life of five years. It carries a multi-spectral imager with a resolution of 22 metres (72 ft) and 660 kilometres (410 mi) of swath, operating in green, red and near infrared spectra.

UK-DMC 3

UK-DMC 3 is a constellation of three British Earth-imaging satellites which are operated by DMC International Imaging. They were constructed by Surrey Satellite Technology and launched by ISRO on 10 July 2015.

Cost

Beijing based Twenty-First Century Aerospace Technology Company Limited (21AT) agreed for 110 million British pounds ($170.2 million) to cover the entire cost of the three satellites delivery in orbit.

See also

References

External links