London (Agencies): UK Space Command’s first satellite, Tyche, was successfully launched on the evening of 16 August onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch was part of the ‘Transporter-11’ Rideshare mission from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in the US.
Tyche is a 150 kg research and development (R&D) concept demonstrator spacecraft, based on the Surrey Satellites Technology Limited (SSTL) Carbonite family of electro-optical (EO) satellites. Initially scheduled to launch in 2023, it was designed and built in the UK through a GBP 22 million (USD 28.5 million) contract awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) procurement arm, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S).
Commodore Dave Moody, head of Space Capability at UK Space Command, stated that Tyche’s primary purpose is to deliver representative data to UK Space Command, enabling them to learn how best to use the information for defence, security, dual-use, or other evolving purposes. The satellite also has an in-orbit processing capability.
The MoD announced on 17 August that Tyche is the UK’s first fully MoD-owned satellite and UK Space Command’s first satellite capable of capturing daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface. This will provide timely space-based imagery in support of the British Armed Forces.
Tyche will maintain a 500 km low Earth orbit (LEO) using water-based propulsion to manoeuvre in space.