VRSS-1 or Francisco Miranda is Venezuela's first remote sensing satellite, and once in operation it is expected to help the country monitor its territory, specifically helping it protect its environment, monitor disasters, estimate agricultural harvests and plan the urban environment. In 2012, it has been renamed Francisco Miranda.
China Great Wall Industry Cooperation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) signed a contract with Venezuela Ministry of People?s Power for Science, Technology and Intermediate Industries (MPPCTII) in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, on May 26 for the delivery of the VRSS-1 satellite. According to the contract, CGWIC is the main contractor and will perform in-orbit delivery of the VRSS-1 satellite to MPPCTII together with the subcontractors for the satellite, the launch vehicle, launch control operation and ground application systems.
The VRSS-1 satellite is based on the CAST2000 bus developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). The satellite has a 2.5 m panchromatic and a 10 m multi-spectral imaging system.
The satellite was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on a CZ-2D (2) rocket. China Satellite Launch & Tracking Control General Department is in charge of the satellite launch control operations and CAST is responsible for remote sensing satellite data acquisition and processing.
.png)
