Subscribe with SteadyVesselSat 1, 2, 3
VesselSat 2 [LuxSpace]
VesselSat is a constellation of three microsatellites to provide spacecraft-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) sensors in low-Earth orbit as a means of tracking maritime assets.
A delevopment version of the LuxSpace AIS-receivers has been tested before on the Rubin-9.1 (AIS-Pathfinder 2) payload.
Two satellites will be leased to Orbcomm as a replacement for the lost capability of the malfunctioning Orbcomm Quick Launch satellites. A third satellite was planned to be operated by LuxSpace themselves, but was apparently cancelled.
Both satellites operated beyond the three year design life. VesselSat-1 lost contact at the end of 2015 and VesselSat-2 in January 2016.
| Nation: | Luxembourg |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Traffic monitoring |
| Operator: | LuxSpace |
| Contractors: | LuxSpace |
| Equipment: | AIS-receiver |
| Configuration: | Triton-1 bus |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | 3 years (design); 4 years (achieved) |
| Mass: | 29 kg |
| Orbit: | 847 km × 867 km, 19.97 (#1); 489 km × 500 km, 97.49 (#2) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VesselSat 1 (Orbcomm FM42, V1) | 2011-058C | 12.10.2011 | Sr FLP | PSLV-CA | with Megha-Tropiques, SRMSAT, Jugnu | |
| VesselSat 2 (Orbcomm FM43, V2) | 2012-001B | 09.01.2012 | TY LC-9 | CZ-4B | with ZY-3 01 | |
| VesselSat 3 | - | cancelled | with ? |
Launch Sites:
- Sr = Satish Dhawan Space Center (Sriharikota Space Center), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India
- TY = Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC), Wuzhai, Shanxi, China
References:
- eoPortal Directory: VesselSat AIS constellation
Further Orbcomm missions:
