# SAR-Lupe 4

> German reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q111496990](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111496990)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sar-lupe-4

## Summary
SAR-Lupe 4 is a German military reconnaissance satellite operated by the Bundeswehr as part of the SAR-Lupe constellation. Launched in March 2008, it is designed to covertly collect intelligence and military data from low Earth orbit using synthetic aperture radar technology.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** March 27, 2008 (17:16:18)
- **Operator:** Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces)
- **Manufacturer:** OHB System AG
- **Launch Vehicle:** Russian Kosmos-3M rocket
- **Mass:** 770 kilograms
- **Orbit:** Low Earth orbit (LEO)
- **Spacecraft Bus:** SmartLEO
- **System Position:** Fourth satellite in the five-satellite SAR-Lupe constellation
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132

## FAQs
### Q: Who operates the SAR-Lupe 4 satellite?
A: SAR-Lupe 4 is operated by the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of Germany. It serves as a dedicated asset for national military reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

### Q: How was SAR-Lupe 4 launched into space?
A: The satellite was launched on March 27, 2008, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 in Russia. It was carried into low Earth orbit by a Kosmos-3M rocket (specifically vehicle 53713-326 SL).

### Q: What is the technical foundation of SAR-Lupe 4?
A: The satellite was manufactured by OHB System AG using the SmartLEO spacecraft bus. It has a mass of 770 kilograms and is part of a larger system of five satellites designed for radar-based reconnaissance.

## Why It Matters
SAR-Lupe 4 is a critical component of Germany's first independent satellite-based reconnaissance system. As the fourth satellite in the SAR-Lupe constellation, its successful deployment was essential for the Bundeswehr to achieve full operational surveillance capabilities. By utilizing synthetic aperture radar, the system allows the German military to collect high-resolution imagery and intelligence data covertly, regardless of weather conditions or daylight.

The satellite represents a significant achievement in German aerospace engineering, specifically through the work of manufacturer OHB System AG and the use of the SmartLEO spacecraft bus. Its placement in low Earth orbit ensures persistent monitoring capabilities for military and intelligence applications. Furthermore, the project highlights international defense logistics, as the German-manufactured satellite was launched from a Russian cosmodrome using a Russian Kosmos-3M rocket. By completing the sequence between SAR-Lupe 3 and SAR-Lupe 5, this satellite helped establish a robust network that provides the German government with autonomous high-resolution data, reducing reliance on external intelligence sources for national security and strategic planning.

## Notable For
- **Constellation Sequence:** It is the fourth unit in the five-satellite SAR-Lupe military reconnaissance system.
- **Technical Platform:** Built on the specialized SmartLEO spacecraft bus developed by OHB System AG.
- **International Cooperation:** A German military asset launched via a Russian Kosmos-3M rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
- **High-Precision Tracking:** Identified by multiple international tracking designations, including COSPAR ID 2008-014A and Satellite Catalog Number 32750.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
SAR-Lupe 4 is a reconnaissance satellite with a mass of 770 kilograms. It was manufactured by **OHB System AG** and utilizes the **SmartLEO** spacecraft bus. The satellite operates within the **low Earth orbit** (LEO) environment to facilitate high-resolution data collection.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was launched on **March 27, 2008**, at precisely 17:16:18 UTC. The launch took place at **Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132**. The launch vehicle used was a **Kosmos-3M** rocket, a class of Russian rockets originally developed in the Soviet Union. The specific launch vehicle qualifier for this mission was 53713-326 SL.

### System Integration
SAR-Lupe 4 is a constituent part of the **SAR-Lupe** system, a German military reconnaissance satellite constellation. Within the launch and operational sequence:
*   **Preceded by:** SAR-Lupe 3
*   **Followed by:** SAR-Lupe 5

### Identification and Tracking
The satellite is cataloged under several international identification systems:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 2008-014A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 2008-014A
*   **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 32750
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "32750"]

### Operational Context
The primary operator of SAR-Lupe 4 is the **Bundeswehr**. As a reconnaissance satellite, its mission is the covert collection of data for intelligence or military applications. It is classified as a "Thing" within the SAR-Lupe military reconnaissance satellite system.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "SAR-Lupe 4",
  "description": "German reconnaissance satellite operated by the Bundeswehr as part of the SAR-Lupe system.",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15843681"],
  "additionalType": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7330"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sar-lupe.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report