PerúSAT-1 Mission
PerúSAT-1 is a very-high-resolution Earth observation satellite system built for the government and Space Agency of Peru. This satellite is the first of its kind operated by Peru and was launched in September 2016.
The PerúSAT-1 programme provides a very-high-quality imagery for both civil and military applications. With application areas ranging from homeland security and border monitoring, coastal surveillance and the fight against illegal trafficking to mining, geology, hydrology, disaster management and environmental protection, PerúSAT-1 gives an unprecedented boost to the development of downstream services in Peru.
In spring 2014, the Peruvian Space Agency CONIDA selected Airbus as the sole prime contractor for the PerúSAT-1 Earth observation satellite programme following a government-to-government agreement between Peruvian and French authorities. As the contract includes an in-orbit delivery of its first satellite, Airbus contracted Arianespace to launch PerúSAT-1 on a Vega launcher from Kourou in French Guiana, which placed the satellite in its sun-synchronous polar orbit approximately 700 km above the Earth.
PerúSAT-1 is based on Airbus Defence and Space's AstroBus-S platform: the latest generation of high-end satellites designed for a 10-year lifetime.
It observes the Earth through the very-high-resolution optical NAOMI imager, designed and developed by Airbus Defence and Space. This silicon carbide optical instrument provides imagery in high or very-high resolution; in PerúSAT-1’s case 70 centimeters.
Further, the Peruvian Earth observation satellite system also comprises a ground control segment, an image reception and processing center as well as a privileged access to Airbus's own Earth observation satellite constellation since day one of the contract.
This success was made possible by the creation of the “Projects Factory©”, a new and more integrated working organisation in the Space System business unit in Airbus Defence and Space. This new way of working brings down development and construction lead times for satellites up to 500 kg and optimizes their costs and schedule delivery, without impacting quality in any way.