SpaceWatch.Global An independent perspective on space
The Moscow, Russia, headquartered Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energia) revealed on 28 July 2016 that it has signed a deal worth U.S.$100 million to help build the Egyptsat-A, the replacement for Egyptsat-2 that in April 2015 failed in orbit after only a year after its launch. Egyptsat-A is being built for Egypt’s National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS).
The contract for the manufacture of the Egyptsat-A remote sensing satellite was signed by RSC Energia and NARSS earlier in 2016, and the cost of the contract is thought to be approximately U.S.$100 million.
According to Russian press agency RIA Novosti, Igor Frolov, General Designer of Automoatic Space Complexes and Systems at RSC Energia, said, “We have formed a council of chief designers, discussed the technical and production readiness of all cooperating institutions for execution of the work on creation of the spacecraft Egyptsat-A. The representatives of all the cooperating organizations have confirmed that they are ready to develop, manufacture and supply the components for the new spacecraft.”
According to Russian press reports, Egyptsat-A will have improved performance capabilities compared to the failed Egyptsat-2. In particular, the replacement satellite will feature an improved electro-optical system and onboard control systems, high-speed radio links, and solar panels with increased efficiency.
These improved capabilities and systems are thought to enhance Egyptsat-A’s capacity for storing satellite imagery, as well as its swath. They will also improve the accuracy of imagery geo-referencing in mountainous terrain – perhaps an indication that Egyptian authorities require a remote sensing capability that can monitor terrorist activity in the Sinai Peninsula.
RSC Energia will produce the vast majority of components for Egyptsat-A, compared to Egyptsat-2 where 60 percent of the components were manufactured in Egypt.
Earlier in 2016, Egypt signed a deal with French companies Airbus Defense and Space and Thales Alenia Space for a military communications satellite. It is believed that the French companies also offered Egypt a high-resolution imagery satellite but that Cairo demurred because of the cost. It was later reported in the defense and aerospace press that South Korean and Russian companies were in discussions with Egypt to build a high-resolution imaging satellite.
If these reports were correct, it would appear that RSC Energia has won that bid, though the Egyptsat series of remote sensing satellites has been a deeply troubled one. The decision to stick with a Russian manufacturer for the Egyptian remote sensing satellite might be more about Russian-Egyptian geopolitics than the need for a reliable satellite imaging system.
Original published at: http://spacewatchme.com/2016/08/russias-rsc-energia-help-egypt-build-egyptsat-remote-sensing-satellite/
