RazakSAT is a Malaysian satellite carrying a high-resolution camera. It was launched into low Earth orbit by a Falcon 1 rocket on July 14, 2009. It was placed into an near-equatorial orbit that presents many imaging opportunities for the equatorial region.
BACKGROUND
This satellite is Malaysia's second remote sensing satellite after TiungSAT-1.
Originally called MACSAT, RazakSAT's payload is mainly electro-optical, carrying a Medium-sized Aperture Camera (MAC) which is a pushbroom camera with five linear detectors (one panchromatic, four multi-spectral) weighing approximately 50 kg. The entire satellite weighs at about 180 kg.
The then-Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad renamed the satellite to RazakSAT in tribute to the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdul Razak or known as the "Bapa Pembangunan Malaysia" (Father of Malaysian Development) for his contribution to Malaysia's development. This was held officially during Mahathir's working visit to Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. (ATSB) in 2003 at its premise in Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. It has since moved to its new premises at Hicom-Glenmarie Industrial Park, Shah Alam, Selangor. ATSB is a wholly-owned company of the Minister of Finance Inc. (MOF) and reports to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Malaysia.LAUNCH
SpaceX launched RazakSAT at 03:35 UTC on July 14, 2009 using a Falcon 1 rocket. This was the fifth flight of a Falcon 1, and like the previous flights lift-off was from Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll. At 05:25 UTC Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, told a reporter the launch had been a success. "We nailed the orbit to well within target parameters...pretty much a bullseye." Musk said.
OPERATION
RazakSAT's mission plan will be carried out by engineers from ATSB. Control operations will be conducted through Malaysian National Space Agency 's Ground Station in Banting, Selangor and ATSB's ground station in Shah Alam, Selangor consisting of a Mission Control Station (MCS) and Image Receiving and Processing Station (IRPS). Another Malaysian ground station which would be able to receive images from the satellite is the Remote Sensing Malaysia groundstation in Temerloh, Pahang. The IRPS will receive and archive images for post processing and distribution to the users.
RazakSAT is unusual as it was placed at Near equatorial orbit (NEqO); unlike many other satellites of its kind that are placed on Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). RazakSAT's orbital inclination will coincide with the latitude of its launch at Kwajalein, and that of the northernmost extent of Malaysia. Thus its launch will be nearly due east and quite efficient.
This is especially important because Malaysia is usually covered by the equatorial cloud bands. Normal sun-synchronous optical satellites, which may re-visit an area only once every 14 days, will almost never be able to see the ground during their pass. As a result, much optical imagery of Malaysia is years out of date.
Razaksat, on the other hand, will revisit some part of Malaysian territory every 90 minutes, maximising its ability to exploit gaps in the clouds, and substantially improving coverage of the country as a result.
