SAOCOM

SAOCOM
Mockup of the SAOCOM satellite.
Mission typeEarth-observation satellites
OperatorCONAE
COSPAR ID2018-076A (SAOCOM 1A)
2020-059A (SAOCOM 1B)
SATCAT no.43641 (SAOCOM 1A)
46265 (SAOCOM 1B)
Website[1]
Mission duration5 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftSAOCOM
BusSAC-C[1]
ManufacturerINVAP
Launch mass3050 kg
Dry mass1600 kg
Start of mission
Launch date8 October 2018, 02:21:28 UTC (SAOCOM 1A)
30 August 2020, 23:19 UTC (SAOCOM 1B)
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteVandenberg Air Force Base, SLC-4E (SAOCOM 1A)
CCAFS, SLC-40 (SAOCOM 1B)
ContractorSpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeSun-synchronous orbit
Altitude620 km
Inclination97.89°
Period97.2 minutes
Repeat interval16 days
Transponders
Band1 L-band (each)
2 X-band (each)
Coverage areaEarth

SAOCOM (Satélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas, Spanish for Argentine Microwaves Observation Satellite) is an Earth observation satellite constellation of Argentina's space agency CONAE. Two satellites are already orbiting the Earth in a Sun-synchronous orbit. The second one was launched on 30 August 2020.

CONAE contracted the company INVAP as main contractor for the project.

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