The First Nanosatellite put in Orbit

The Colombian Air Force successfully launched FACSAT-1, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, on November 28, 2018.

It’s a dream come true for the Colombian Air Force (CAF). The first Colombian nanosatellite, the FACSAT-1, was launched into space, last November, to observe the Earth. This step forward will reduce the dependence on foreign technologies, optimizing the available resources. Made of three cubes, this new observation satellite was built in Denmark and will have a useful life of three to five years depending on the variability of energy consumption. Its mass is 4 kilos, it will orbit about 505 kilometers high and every 90 minutes will turn around the planet. It has the ability to capture images with a lens of 30 meters per pixel.

According to the Colombian Air Force, the FACSAT-1 will “help to train and develop skills in science and technology through the transfer of knowledge, opportunities for academic research, financial savings, and international cooperation”. This satellite will contribute to the fulfillment of the institutional vision of being a branch technologically developed, with the best human talent and anchored in its values, to lead the aerospace power and be decisive in the defence of the nation.