Sumbandila
Means "Lead the way" in local Tshivenda language, also called Zasat 2,
ZA-002
Cost $3.7 million (ZAR26 million)
Originally it was only a demonstrator, but in early 2007 it was turned into a
natural ressources monitoring satellite (might be of military use too).
Initially planned for launch in Dec 2006.
The University of Stellenbosch, SunSpace and the CSIR (Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research) were key players in constructing SumbandilaSat. The
CSIR's Satellite Application Centre (CSIR-SAC) will be responsible for
operations, telemetry, tracking, control as well as data collection.
Out
of service
|
2011
|
Cause
|
Its
reactions wheels failed in early 2011 and the satellite is now tumbling.
|
Decay
|
10
Dec 2021
|
http://www.sunspace.co.za/
sat-index articles
Prime
contractor
|
|
Platform
|
|
Mass
at launch
|
60
kg
|
Dry
mass
|
|
Dimension
|
1.8
m long
|
Solar
array
|
|
Stabilization
|
|
DC
power
|
|
Design
lifetime
|
|
The camera has 6.25 m resolution.
Live downlinking of PAL video images during TT&C ground station passes will
also be possible.
Additional experiments are VLF measurements, an amateur radio payload, an AIS
experimental payload and a vibrating string experiment.