The satellite has begun its space mission and transmitted the first data to the ground station. It will be handed over to its Singaporean customers at the end of a series of tests.
The DS-SAR radar satellite, developed and produced by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), was successfully launched into space on a PSLV-C56 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket, this morning at 04:00 from the launch site SDSC SHAR Sriharikota, India.
In line with the original launch program, the satellite entered its orbit around the Earth, began transmitting data, and underwent a series of preliminary performance tests, conducted by IAI's engineers, who validated the correct functioning and performance level of the systems. While in orbit, the satellite will begin a preplanned series of tests, and following their completion, will be formally handed over to its Singaporean customers DSTA and ST Electronics.
The DS-SAR satellite was developed based on the experience accumulated by IAI in developing a series of advanced observation satellites: OptSat and TecSAR, which are launched into space, in new generations, since 1988. The SAR sensor payload enables the collection of a wide range of data, in terms of both coverage and resolution, day and night, and under all weather conditions.