The Royal Thai Air Force’s Napa-2 Earth-observation satellite was launched into space on 30 June from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from aerospace company SpaceX. The ‘6U’ CubeSat was one of 88 satellites carried by the two-stage rocket that day as part of SpaceX’s ‘Transporter-2′ dedicated rideshare mission. The Napa-2 is also expected to observe and monitor Thai air space for defence and national security purposes.
The main payload is a Gecko Imager, from the South African company SCS, capable of imaging in the RGB-band with an approximately 39m ground sampling distance from the typical Low Earth Orbit. There is also a secondary payload, which is a demonstration model of the TriScape 100 Imager from developer Simera Sense, with a target ground sampling distance down to 5m from the typical Low Earth Orbit.
Netherlands-based company Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE), which designed and built both satellites, noted that Napa-2 is equipped with a ‘Simera Sense Multiscape Imager’ featuring seven visual and near-infrared (VNIR) bands, with a ground sampling distance of 5 m to improve its Earth-observation capabilities.
Falcon-9 v1.2 Block 5 or Falcon-9FT Block 5 or Falcon-9 Upgrade Block 5 is a liquid fueled orbital launch vehicle for medium sized missions, which is developed by SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.). It is a improved version of the Falcon-9 v1.2) launch vehicle with reusable first stage. Both stages are Kerosene / LOX fueled.
