Friday, January 09, 2009

TECSAR

Also Known As
Trinidad (US version)

Origin
Israel

Contractor/s
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI)

Description: The TECSAR is a cost-effective, high resolution radar observation satellite developed by IAI's MBT Space Division. At a low Earth orbit, between 400 - 800 kilometers of altitude, the TECSAR provides high resolution imagery gathered by its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor, the key subsystem for the TECSAR system. It can operate at day and night in all weather conditions overcoming the limitations of other type SAR observation systems.

TECSAR weighs approximately 300 kilograms and features extremely high mechanical agility. Combining such maneuverability with electronic antenna beam steering, the Earth observation satellite will offer imagery of large areas in mosaic form. There are various operation modes: it can collect a large number high resolution images per orbit, many hundreds of medium resolution swaths, or wider coverage at lower resolution utilizing electronic beam scanning.

A ground exploitation station is responsible for data processing activities such as target detection, change detection or target cluster indication. These operations can be done in a short time thanks to rapid dissemination of processed data to command posts enabling commanders to rapidly take a decision on attacking a given target/s. TECSAR architecture supports multi-user or multiple stations. The whole system is cheap, meaning that launch and operation costs are inexpensive.

In April 2007, Northrop Grumman and IAI initiated an exclusive teaming agreement to provide multi-mode X-band radar imagery capabilities to the United States Government based on TECSAR. The resulting spacecraft, known as Trinidad, can be manufactured in about 28 months and held in storage for launch on a 30-day call-up.

Specifications
Weights: Max Weight 300 kg (661 lb)

Performance: Orbit 800 km (432 nm), Service Life 5 yr

News
TecSAR Satellite Transmits First High-Quality Photos

First IAI-Built TECSAR Spacecraft Successfully Launched Into Orbit

Northrop Grumman and IAI to Offer US Air Force Rapid Response Surveillance Satellites

Spacecraft

TECSAR 1

Launch Vehicle: Unlisted - Space Launch Systems
Launch Site: SHAR Test Range
Launch Date: Monday, January 21, 2008

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, December 20, 2008

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