SARah

The two reflector satellites of the SARah reconnaissance system were successfully launched on December 24 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launchpad SLC-4E at 14:11 CET and deployed its two passengers in space on schedule after a flight time of 25 minutes. Shortly afterwards, the first signals from the two satellites were received. This has kicked-off the so-called Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), during which the satellites will be booted up system by system and checked for functionality. The satellites are also manoeuvred into their final orbits during this phase.

SARah: new German reconnesaince satellites successfully launched

Space/C4ISR, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

SARah is the successor mission to the SAR-Lupe system, which has been in service since 2007.

This week, the operational part of the German national reconnaissance system SARah began with the phased array subsystem. This means that the first of a total of three satellites in the constellation is already in partial use and transmitting data to the ground stations belonging to the system. The phased array subsystem was realised by Airbus Defence and Space in Immenstaad as the main subcontractor. The entire SARah system is being realised by the prime contractor OHB System in Bremen.

Germany: first satellite of SARah system enters service in Bundeswehr

Top, Space/C4ISR / By Defence Industry Europe

This week, the operational part of the German national reconnaissance system SARah began with the phased array subsystem.