Falcon Eye 2
Soyuz STA/Fregat
Arianespace
Mission
Falcon Eye 2
- Type: Government/Top Secret
- Orbit: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Falcon Eye 2 is a high-resolution Earth-imaging satellite for the United Arab Emirates. Built by Airbus Defense and Space with an optical imaging payload from Thales Alenia Space, Falcon Eye is the second of two surveillance satellites ordered by the UAE’s military.
Location
Soyuz Launch Complex
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Soyuz Launch Complex has witnessed the launch of 26 rockets, including 26 orbital launch attempts, while Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, has been the site for 320 rocket launches.
Rocket
Progress Rocket Space Center Soyuz STA Fregat
The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle. This stage continues to use the RD-0110 engine.
The 2.1a/ST version is sometimes called Soyuz ST-A.
Agency
Arianespace
Arianespace SA is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world’s first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane programme. Their vehicles launch exclusively from French Guiana in South America.
