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Capella 2, 3, 4, 5 (Sequoia, Whitney)
Capella 2 [Capella Space]
Capella Space of California is developing the Capella Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. They are planned to operate in 30 satellite constellation
The improved satellites about twice as large as the Capella 1 (Denali) prototype to accommodate a bigger sensor aperture for the X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that can provide high-contrast, low-noisehigh-resolution sub-0.5 meter imagery. For this, it features a new 3.5-meter aperture deployed mesh-based reflector antenna.
The second satellite, Capella 2 or Sequoia, will be launched as a co-passenger on a Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) rocket in March 2020.
Three more satellites Capella 3, 4 and 5, the first batch of the Whitney sub-constellation, are to fly on an Indian PSLV in 2020.
Another satellite is planned for a launch in May 2020 on an Electron KS rocket into a 45° orbit at a nominal altitude of 525 km.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Earth observation |
| Operator: | Capella Space |
| Contractors: | Capella Space |
| Equipment: | X-band SAR |
| Configuration: | |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | ~100 kg |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capella 2 (Sequoia) | - | 2020 | CC SLC-40 | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with SAOCOM 1B, GNOMES 1 | |
| Capella 3 (Whitney 1) | - | 2020 | Sr | PSLV | with ?, Capella 4, Capella 5 | |
| Capella 4 (Whitney 2) | - | 2020 | Sr | PSLV | with ?, Capella 3, Capella 5 | |
| Capella 5 (Whitney 3) | - | 2020 | Sr | PSLV | with ?, Capella 3, Capella 4 | |
| Capella x (Whitney x) | - | 2020 | OnS LC-1 | Electron KS | ||
| Capella y (Whitney y) | - | 2020 | ||||
| Capella z (Whitney z) | - | 2020 |
References:
- Capella Space: Website
- Space News: Capella unveils radar satellite design, 22 January 2020
