| Mohammed VI | |
| Mission Type: | Earth observation and reconnaissance |
| Operator: | Government of Morocco |
| Cospar Id: | 2017-070A (A) 2018-095A (B) |
| Satcat: | 43005 (A)[1] 43717 (B)[2] |
| Mission Duration: | 5 years (planned) (elapsed; A) (elapsed; B) |
| Spacecraft: | Mohammed VI-A Mohammed VI-B |
| Spacecraft Type: | Observation satellite |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Astrosat-1000 |
| Manufacturer: | Airbus Defence and Space Thales Alenia Space[3] |
| Launch Date: | (A) (B) |
| Launch Rocket: | Vega |
| Launch Site: | Guiana Space Centre ELA-1 |
| Launch Contractor: | Arianespace |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth |
| Orbit Semimajor: | (A) (B) |
| Orbit Periapsis: | (A) (B) |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | (A) (B) |
| Orbit Inclination: | 97.9° |
| Orbit Period: | 97.5 minutes |
| Programme: | Mohammed VI |
The Mohammed VI satellites are a series of two Moroccan Earth observation and reconnaissance satellites, namely Mohammed VI-A and Mohammed VI-B, developed and built by Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space based upon the Astrosat-1000 satellite bus. They are Morocco's first optical imaging satellites, and are operated by Morocco's Ministry of Defense, with an expected service life of 5 years.[4] They are named after Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco.[5]
Both satellites are based on the Astrosat-1000 satellite bus. They have a launch mass of and have three deployable solar arrays, and an expected service life of around 5 years.[6]
The satellites have four hydrazine thrusters for reboosting its orbit and keeping its altitude.
See main article: article.
The Mohammed VI-A satellite, Morocco's first spy satellite, was launched on Vega flight VV11 on board the Vega launcher from Guiana Space Centre ELA-1, French Guiana, on November 8, 2017. It was launched to low Earth Sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 97.9°.
See main article: article.
The Mohammed VI-B satellite, Morocco's second spy satellite, was launched a year later on Vega flight VV14 from Guiana Space Centre ELA-1, French Guiana, on November 28, 2018. It was launched to Low Earth Sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 97.9°.