The capstone of a fleet of
German military satellites rocketed into space from Russia early Tuesday,
completing a series of five launchings of spacecraft designed to scout
locations around the world.
The SAR-Lupe 5 satellite, a
1,700-pound craft (771-kg) outfitted with cloud-piercing and night-vision
radar, launched aboard a Russian Kosmos 3M rocket at 0240 GMT Tuesday (10:40
p.m. EDT Monday), according to news reports.
The 105-foot (32-meter) tall
booster took
off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a space base in far northern Russia near
the Arctic Circle.
The rocket successfully
released SAR-Lupe 5 into an orbit 300 miles (482 km) high about a half-hour
later, according to OHB-System, the satellite's prime contractor.
The spacecraft carries a
large dish antenna connected to a powerful X-band radar system. The synthetic
aperture radar signals can see through clouds and observe ground objects
around the clock.
Optical reconnaissance
satellites are hampered by weather and darkness, significantly reducing their
effectiveness in spying on enemy activity.
Imagery produced by the
instrument will show objects as small as three feet, according to OHB-System.
The five satellites are
spread among three orbital planes to provide regular global coverage,
OHB-System officials said.
SAR-Lupe launches began in
December 2006. Subsequent satellites were launched in July 2007, November 2007
and March.
The German military, which
took control of SAR-Lupe satellite operations in December, will use the system
for the next ten years.
The SAR-Lupe
system is part of an international intelligence-sharing agreement between
Germany and France. France will receive SAR-Lupe radar imagery and Germany will
receive data from the French Helios optical and infrared reconnaissance network.
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