Kazakhstan’s First Earth Observation Satellite Heads for Kourou

DZZ-HR, the Republic of Kazakhstan’s first Earth observation satellite, has just left Airbus Defence and Space’s cleanrooms in Toulouse and is now on its way to the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. From there a European Vega launcher will place it in orbit, with the launch date set for 25 April 2014.
DZZ-HR is a 900kg high-resolution satellite. From a low sun-synchronous orbit it will provide the Republic of Kazakhstan with a complete range of civil applications, including monitoring of natural and agricultural resources, provision of mapping data, and support for rescue operations in the event of a natural disaster.

Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s leading exporter of Earth observation satellites, signed with Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (KGS) the contract to supply the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan with a space Earth observation system following an international tender process in 2009.