The Algerian high-resolution earth observation satellite ALSAT-2B, the second of a mini constellation of two satellites, is celebrating its fourth anniversary in space today. Placed into orbit by the Indian launcher PSLV-C 35 on September 26, 2016, for a nominal lifespan of five (05) years, the satellite continues its mission of providing high resolution images (2.5 m) from its sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 670 km and is operating with a phase shift of 180 ° behind its twin satellite ALSAT-2A, which has accumulated more than 10 years of activity (launch on July 12, 2010).
ALSAT-2B has provided during these four years, more than 78,000 scenes in panchromatic and multispectral mode covering the whole of the earth, but mainly (nearly 50%) the national territory and the African continent (20%), to answer the needs of the various national user sectors in their economic and sustainable development programs. This number represents a total length of acquired images of more than 665,426 km and a covered area of more than 11.644 million km².
The satellite follows with precision the strategy implemented by CDS engineers for the evolution of its local time. Indeed, this approach made it possible to improve the lighting conditions in the areas covered, going from a local time of 9:30 a.m. to the launch of the satellite at 10:02 a.m. in September 2018, 10:09 a.m. in December 2019 and 10:05 a.m. in September 2020. This strategy will allow optimal management of the satellite’s orbit until the end of 2023, without any tilt correction maneuver.
Alsat-2B et Alsat-2A demeurent opérationnels grâce à la robustesse et la performance de ses sous-systèmes et de leur charge utile, ainsi que la maitrise technologique des ingénieurs de l’ASAL, qui continuent, depuis le lancement d’Alsat-2A en juillet 2010, de gérer, suivre et entretenir en permanence l’orbite des satellites et la qualité de leurs images.
Dans le domaine des applications spatiales, les données ALSAT-2B sont exploitées dans des projets d’envergure nationale répartis sur tout le territoire national, et couvrant les domaines thématiques suivants :
- Risques Majeurs :
– Estimation des surfaces forestières parcourues par le feu de forêt durant les campagnes annuelles nationales de 2017 à 2020, sur l’ensemble des wilayas forestières.
– Assessment of the impact of major floods that affected the various regions (Ain M’lila Wilaya of Oum El Bouaghi in June 2017 – Berriane Wilaya of Ghardaïa and In Guezzam Wilaya of Adrar in August 2018, Annaba in February 2019 and Beni -Ounif (Wilaya de Béchar) in September 2019.
