The OHB-System press release is reproduced below:

Bremen/Plesetsk, 07-03-07

The second satellite in the SAR-Lupe system has been placed successfully in orbit. The Russian Cosmos 3M launch vehicle lifted off last night from the Russian Plesetsk space center, south of Archangelsk, on schedule at 21:38:41 hours CEST. Roughly half an hour later, it released the radar satellite into its low-earth orbit at an altitude of roughly 500 km.

The first sign of life from the satellite was picked up by the ground station Kerguelen in the Southern Indian Ocean at 22:41 hours, with direct contact established between the control center and the satellite as planned 92 min. after launch. Preliminary testing indicates that SAR-Lupe 2 is working perfectly in its orbit. Accordingly, work commenced last night on putting the satellite in operation. In a preliminary highlight, the antenna boom was deployed.

Satellite control is currently in the hands of the German Space Agency DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. The ground station of the German Armed Forces in Gelsdorf is tracking the satellite at the same time and will assume operative responsibility for it at the end of July, at which point in time it will start collecting SAR radar images.
The German Armed Forces are already able to use the system. With the second launch and ensuing ramp-up of the satellite, the German Federal Armed Forces will have an operational reconnaissance system as of autumn 2007.
The first SAR-Lupe satellite has been in orbit since December 2006. It is supplying superb high-resolution images and is operating very successfully and reliably.

The remaining three satellites will be launched in intervals of around four months, with the entire system to be completed in 2008.

Background

SAR-Lupe system
OHB-System is the primary contractor for SAR-Lupe, Germany’s first satellite-based radar reconnaissance system. It comprises five satellites and a corresponding ground segment for controlling the satellites and receiving, processing and evaluating image data. The system works day and night regardless of the weather and supplies immediate and highly detailed radar images of virtually any area of the earth.

COSMOS 3M launch vehicle
OHB-System AG has been working very successfully with Russian space travel company POLYOT, Omsk, since the beginning of the nineties. Developed by POLYOT back in the sixties, the COSMOS launch vehicles have proven themselves in over 770 missions. With a success rate of over 97%, it is one of the world’s most reliable launch systems. The COSMOS launch vehicle is ideal for transporting small satellites to low-orbit positions.

SAR-Lupe a part of the European Reconnaissance System
SAR-Lupe will be forming part of the European Reconnaissance System. Under the ESGA project (German acronym for “Europeanization of Satellite-Based Reconnaissance”), OHB-System is creating the technical basis for allowing France to use the German SAR-Lupe radar system. In return, Germany will be able to access the French optical HELIOS II system.

For additional information please contact:

OHB-System AG
Danela Sell
Communication & Public Relations
phone: +49 421 - 2020-620
fax: +49 421- 2020-700
mail: sell@ohb-system.de

Images: OHB-System AG

Source: OHB-System

The OHB-System press release is reproduced below:

Automatic Identification System (AIS) for receiving ship signals also on board the COSMOS launcher for OHB


Bremen/Plesetsk, 11-01-07

A Russian Cosmos 3M carrier lifted off on schedule from the Russian Plesetsk space center, south of Archangelsk, in the early hours of this morning at 1:51 hours CET. On board it was carrying the third SAR-Lupe radar satellite, which it successfully released into its intended orbit around half an hour later. Preliminary signs of life from the satellite were picked up by the Kerguelen ground station in the southern Indian Ocean. As planned, direct contacts were established between the control center and the satellite 92 minutes into the mission. Preliminary tests have confirmed that the third SAR-Lupe satellite is also working properly. Accordingly, work commenced on putting it into operation last night.


Copyright: RUAG Aerospace / OHB-System AG

Satellite control is currently in the hands of the German Space Agency DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. The ground station of the German Armed Forces in Gelsdorf is tracking the satellite at the same time and will assume operative responsibility for it in around four weeks at which point in time the radar will start collecting SAR radar images.

In orbit since December 2006 and July 2007, respectively, the first two SAR-Lupe satellites are supplying outstanding high-resolution images and operating very successfully and reliably.
The remaining two satellites will be launched in intervals of four or five months, with the entire system to be fully operational in 2008.


Copyright: RUAG Aerospace / OHB-System AG

The COSMOS-3M also carried an Automatic Identification System (AIS) for ships on board. OHB and LuxSpace Sarl, a company owned by OHB Technology AG, are working on the validation of this and following systems. OHB is building seven new ORBCOMM satellites in which the AIS will be implemented for the US Coast Guard for global monitoring of shipping traffic.


Please direct queries to:

OHB-System AG
Danela Sell
Communication & Public Relations
phone: +49 421 - 2020-620
fax: +49 421- 2020-700
mail: sell@ohb-system.de

Source: OHB-System

The OHB-System press release is reproduced below:

Bremen, 03-28-08

The fourth German SAR-Lupe reconnaissance satellite was launched at 18:15 hours from the Russian space center Plesetsk south of Archangelsk. The Cosmos 3M launch vehicle which was carrying the radar satellite released it into its intended orbit around half an hour later. After roughly 90 minutes, a direct contact was established between the control center and the satellite. Preliminary tests have confirmed that the fourth SAR-Lupe satellite is also working properly. Accordingly, work commenced on putting it into operation last night.
Satellite control is currently in the hands of the German Space Agency DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. The ground station of the German Armed Forces in Gelsdorf is tracking the satellite at the same time and will assume operative responsibility for it in around four weeks, at which point in time the radar payload will go into use. The German Federal Armed Forces have been utilizing the system since December 2007 and are extremely pleased with the image quality.

In orbit since December 2006 and July and November 2007, respectively, the first three SAR-Lupe satellites are supplying outstanding high-resolution images and operating very successfully and reliably. SAR-Lupe 4 is identical in construction to the previous satellites. As they are operating perfectly, not even minor adjustments were necessary.



Please direct any inquiries to:

OHB-System AG
Communication & Public Relations
Daniela Jaschke
phone: +49 421 - 2020-749
fax: +49 421- 2020-700
mail: jaschke@ohb-system.de

Source: OHB-System

The Khrunichev State Research And Production Space Centre press release is reproduced below:

First Launch in 2008 from Plesetsk: Successful Launch for Cosmos 3M

28.03.2008

A Russian Cosmos 3M carrier carrying a forth German surveillance satellite of SAR-Lupe series lifted off from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Northern Russia, yesterday, on 27 March ( at 20:15 Moscow Time). The launch of Cosmos 3M marked the first launch in 2008 year from the Russia’s northern launch site.

All flight parameters were absolutely nominal and the satellite was placed on its target orbit (at 20:45 Moscow Time), Russian Space Forces said. The German satellite has already been handed over to its operator.

Russia's Space Forces previously conducted three SAR-Lupe launches in 2006-2007, under a 2003 contract between Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and German Cosmos International Satellitenstart Gmbh (a subsidiary of OHB Systems AG), which was signed at the international aerospace show MAKS in the town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow. The Rosoboronexport Organisation acted as a State intermediary.

The Cosmos 3M is a two-stage, liquid fueled launch vehicle, made by Omsk-based Polyot Production Association. Cosmos is capable for launching payload of up to 1500 kg into low Earth orbit. This launch system can be used for launch of several small or medium sized satellites in one launch. Cosmos has been operational since 1960s and has flight history of more than 750 launches.

Polyot Production Association is a key Russian space industry entity. Polyot joined Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center as its new branch in 2007.

Source: Khrunichev Press Release