EADS Astrium has signed in February 2006 a contract with the Algerian National Space
Technology Centre (CNTS) for the development of the ALSAT-2 system, which
consists of two optical observation satellites. ALSAT-2 is the first Earth observation
satellite system from the AstroSat-100 family to be built using the Myriade platform.
The ALSAT-2 contract covers the design and development of two satellites. The first,
ALSAT 2A, was integrated and tested in France at EADS Astrium, whereas the second,
ALSAT 2B, was integrated in Algeria within the small satellite development center
(UDPS) in Oran. The ALSAT-2 programme also includes the construction of two ground control
segments and one image station allowing the satellites to be operated and controlled from
Algerian territory.
ALSAT-2 is equipped with NAOMI (New AstroSat Optical Modular Instrument), a latest-generation payload capable of supplying images with a resolution of 2.5 meters in panchromatic mode and 10 meters in each of 4 colour bands in
multispectral mode. It draws on EADS Astrium's extensive experience in Earth
observation, most particularly with respect to the silicon carbide telescopes which are
being integrated onto a Myriade class satellite platform which was designed in cooperation
with CNES, the French Space agency.
The CNTS, affiliated with the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL), will be responsible for
managing the ALSAT-2 programme and operating the satellite system.
The system will enable Algeria to obtain very high quality images for use in a wide
variety of applications: cartography, management of agriculture, forestry, water, mineral
and oil resources, crop protection, management of natural disasters and land planning.
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