# Saudisat 1B
**Wikidata**: [Q17124962](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17124962)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saudisat-1b

## Summary
Saudisat 1B is an amateur radio satellite launched on September 26, 2000. It was deployed into orbit using a Dnepr launch vehicle, which is a converted Satan ICBM, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Saudisat 1B is an amateur radio satellite.
*   **Launch Date:** September 26, 2000.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 2000-057E.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 26549.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Dnepr (a converted Satan ICBM used as a satellite launch vehicle).
*   **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109.
*   **Significant Event:** Rocket launch occurring on September 26, 2000.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Saudisat 1B launched?
A: Saudisat 1B was launched on September 26, 2000.

### Q: What type of satellite is Saudisat 1B?
A: It is classified as an amateur radio satellite, designed to transmit amateur radio signals.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Saudisat 1B?
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Dnepr rocket, which is a converted Satan Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

### Q: Where did the launch of Saudisat 1B take place?
A: The launch took place at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109.

## Why It Matters
Saudisat 1B serves as a specific case study in the early 2000s era of space utilization, particularly regarding the repurposing of military technology for civilian and scientific use. The satellite's deployment via a Dnepr launch vehicle highlights the strategic conversion of the Satan ICBM—a Cold War-era weapon—into a commercial space launch system. As an amateur radio satellite, Saudisat 1B contributed to the global network of non-commercial communications satellites used by radio enthusiasts, playing a role in the broader history of amateur satellite operations. Its launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109 also marks it as a participant in the long-standing legacy of one of the world's most famous spaceports.

## Notable For
*   Being an **amateur radio satellite**, facilitating non-commercial radio communication.
*   Launching aboard a **Dnepr rocket**, a vehicle derived from the Soviet-era "Satan" ICBM.
*   Utilizing **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109** as its departure point into orbit.
*   Being identified in international catalogs with the unique COSPAR ID **2000-057E**.

## Body

### Mission Identity and Classification
Saudisat 1B is identified as an "amateur radio satellite," a class of spacecraft designed to transmit radio frequencies for amateur (ham) radio operators. It is tracked in international space registries under the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 26549 and the COSPAR International Designator 2000-057E. These identifiers distinguish it from other objects launched in the same time period and orbital plane.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on September 26, 2000. The mission represented a significant event categorized as a "rocket launch" in structured data records.

*   **Start Point:** The launch originated from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109**, a specific launch complex within the Cosmodrome.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The flight was facilitated by a **Dnepr** rocket. The Dnepr system is notably a conversion of the R-36MUTTH ICBM, known by the NATO reporting name "Satan." This vehicle is used to place satellites into orbit by repurposing decommissioned military hardware.

### Technical Context
The "Dnepr" class of launch vehicles associated with this mission is known for converting heavy ICBMs into space launchers. The classification of Saudisat 1B as an "amateur radio satellite" places it within a category of spacecraft that typically operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to support communications experiments and hobbyist radio operations globally. The entity is also cross-referenced in academic and data sources such as the Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "26549"]` and the Google Knowledge Graph ID `/g/11bbmrl89z`.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report