NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2017-044B
Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite (VENµS) is a near polar sun-synchronous orbit microsatellite being jointly built by the Israeli Space Agency and CNES. The satellite has a scientific and a technological mission.
The satellite has a 2-day revisit orbit which allows constant viewing angles at constant sun lighting angles. The unique combination is hoped to allow the development of new image processing methods. A set of at least 50 points of interest around the world were chosen to be scanned throughout the scientific mission. The points will be rescanned every 2 days for the entire duration of the mission where it will collect sensory and imagery data.
In addition to its scientific mission, the satellite has a technological mission. The satellite will be equipped with Israeli hall effect thrusters (IHET). The mission is to demonstrate the thrusters' enhanced capabilities and autonomous mission operations.
Launch Date: 2017-08-02
Launch Vehicle: Vega
Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana
Mass: 264 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office