For its ninth launch of the year, and the 13th Vega mission since this launcher began its career at the Guiana Space Center in 2012, Arianespace will orbit the MOHAMMED VI – B satellite. This Earth observation satellite for the Kingdom of Morocco was developed by a consortium comprising Thales Alenia Space as system prime contractor and Airbus as co-prime.
Flight VV13 marks the ninth Earth observation mission for Vega, a versatile light launcher.
The MOHAMMED VI – B satellite is an Earth observation satellite built for the Kingdom of Morocco by Thales Alenia Space as system prime contractor and Airbus as co-prime. It will be the second satellite of the MOHAMMED VI – A & B program, with the MOHAMMED VI – A satellite launched by Arianespace on November 7, 2017, also utilizing a Vega vehicle.
The MOHAMMED VI – B satellite will be mostly used for mapping and land surveying activities, regional development, agricultural monitoring, the prevention and management of natural disasters, monitoring changes in the environment and desertification, as well as border and coastal surveillance.
The MOHAMMED VI – B satellite will weigh approximately 1,108 kg. at launch.
Being complementary, the MOHAMMED VI – A & B satellites will jointly enable a faster coverage of zones of interests.
The 13th Arianespace Vega launch from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) will place the MOHAMMED VI – B satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).
The launcher will be carrying a total payload of approximately 1,184 kg.
The launch will be performed from the Vega Launch Complex (SLV) in Kourou, French Guiana.
Another Vega success for Earth observation: Arianespace orbits the MOHAMMED VI – B satellite
Arianespace lofted the MOHAMMED VI - B satellite for the Kingdom of Morocco on tonight’s mission from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, and in doing so, marked the 13th consecutive success of its lightweight Vega launcher since entering service in 2012.
