# TopSat

> former British Earth observation satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q7824383](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7824383)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TopSat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/topsat

## Summary
TopSat is a British Earth observation satellite launched on October 27, 2005, by Surrey Satellite Technology using a Kosmos-3M rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132. This satellite represented the United Kingdom's capability in developing and deploying advanced Earth observation technology from orbit.

## Key Facts
- TopSat is classified as an Earth observation satellite, designed specifically for monitoring Earth from orbit
- The satellite was launched on October 27, 2005, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 in Russia
- TopSat was manufactured by Surrey Satellite Technology, a British company specializing in small satellite development
- The satellite was launched using a Kosmos-3M rocket, a Soviet/Russian launch vehicle
- TopSat has the COSPAR ID 2005-043B and satellite catalog number 28891
- The satellite has 4 sitelinks across multiple language Wikipedia entries (English, Galician, Croatian, Korean)
- TopSat is represented in Wolfram Language as Entity["Satellite", "28891"]

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of TopSat?
A: TopSat was designed as an Earth observation satellite to monitor and capture images of Earth's surface from orbit, supporting various scientific and commercial applications requiring high-resolution imagery.

### Q: When and where was TopSat launched?
A: TopSat was launched on October 27, 2005, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132 in Russia using a Kosmos-3M rocket as its launch vehicle.

### Q: Who developed and manufactured TopSat?
A: TopSat was developed and manufactured by Surrey Satellite Technology, a British company specializing in small satellite technology and space systems.

### Q: What technical identifiers does TopSat have?
A: TopSat has a COSPAR ID of 2005-043B and a satellite catalog number (SCN) of 28891, which are used to uniquely identify it in space object catalogs.

## Why It Matters
TopSat represents an important milestone in British space technology development, demonstrating the UK's capability to design, build, and operate advanced Earth observation satellites. As a small satellite program, it contributed to the growing trend of more affordable and accessible space technology, opening new possibilities for Earth observation applications in various sectors including environmental monitoring, agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning. The satellite's development by Surrey Satellite Technology also highlighted the UK's emerging role in the competitive small satellite market and provided valuable experience in satellite operations and Earth imaging technology that has informed subsequent British space missions.

## Notable For
- Being one of the British-developed Earth observation satellites launched in the mid-2000s
- Launching using the Russian Kosmos-3M rocket, demonstrating international collaboration in space programs
- Having a comprehensive multilingual presence with Wikipedia articles in English, Galician, Croatian, and Korean
- Representing the technical capabilities of Surrey Satellite Technology in developing sophisticated small satellite systems
- Utilizing the COSPAR ID 2005-043B for formal registration in international space object catalogs

## Body
### Mission and Purpose
TopSat was designed as a British Earth observation satellite with the capability to capture high-resolution imagery of Earth's surface from orbit. The satellite was part of the UK's efforts to develop indigenous space observation capabilities.

### Technical Specifications
- SCN: 28891
- COSPAR ID: 2005-043B
- Freebase ID: /m/08mjlk
- Manufacturer: Surrey Satellite Technology
- Launch vehicle: Kosmos-3M (Russian rocket)

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched on October 27, 2005, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a Russian spaceport located in Arkhangelsk Oblast. The launch vehicle used was the Kosmos-3M, a Soviet/Russian space launch vehicle that has been in service since the 1960s.

### Documentation and Recognition
TopSat has been documented in various sources, including Wikipedia in multiple languages (English, Galician, Croatian, and Korean), with the article having 4 sitelinks. The satellite is also recognized in the Wolfram Knowledgebase as Entity["Satellite", "28891"] and in Wikidata as a British Earth observation satellite.

### Related Entities
TopSat belongs to the class of Earth observation satellites, which are artificial satellites specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit. It was launched using the Kosmos-3M rocket, a launch vehicle developed by the Soviet Union and later operated by Russia.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report