KazEOSat-1

Airbus Defence and Space is set to launch Kazakhstan’s first Earth observation satellite, KazEOSat-1, from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Formerly known as DZZ-HR, KazEOSat-1 is a high-resolution (1m) satellite weighing 900kg, and will provide Kazakhstan with a complete range of civil applications.

The project will support monitoring of natural and agricultural resources; provision of mapping data; security applications; as well as rescue operations in the event of natural disasters.

Airbus Defence and Space Space Systems head François Auque said that KazEOSat-1 benefits from the company’s latest technologies, new avionics, silicon carbide, a large aperture and an agile platform.

"KazEOSat-1 is the high-resolution element of a space observation system that will include two satellites and their ground segment."

"Through our training programme, we have transferred our knowledge to the engineers from Kazakhstan who will operate the satellite, enabling Kazakhstan to control the satellite completely autonomously, and collect and use the images provided by the satellite," Auque said.

Based on the Astrobus platform, KazEOSat-1 is the high-resolution element of a space observation system that will include two satellites and their ground segment.

The medium-resolution satellite, KazEOSat-2, is built by Airbus Defence and Space’s British subsidiary, SSTL.

These two satellites are part of ‘Kazakhstan’s Space Plan’, which comprises the construction of a satellite integration and test centre in Astana.

Airbus Defence and Space was selected as a partner in the Space Plan in 2009, and is supplying the vital equipment for the centre.

Image: KazEOSat-1 will provide Kazakhstan with a complete range of civil applications. Photo: courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space.

Defence Technology