Five remote sensing satellites to be launched by yearend - Roscosmos

MOSCOW. June 27 (Interfax) - Russia is due to launch five remote sensing satellites, including Resurs-P5, Kondor-FKA, Obzor-R and two Aist satellites, by the end of this year, Roscosmos Deputy General Director for Space Systems Mikhail Khailov said.

"The launch of Resurs-P5 is on our schedule for the year-end. We will launch two Aist satellites at the end of the year, as well. These satellites have stereoscopic equipment," Khailov said at a meeting of the interagency commission for the use of space industry deliverables on Thursday.

The Kondor-FKA2 radar satellite will also be launched in 2024, he said, adding that the satellite would be shipped to a cosmodrome shortly.

"Another radar satellite, multifunctional Obzor-R1, will be launched too," Khailov said.

On April, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said the Russian satellite constellation currently consists of over 240 satellites, and more than 100 satellites will be launched by the end of 2024.

Resurs-P satellites are used to update maps, support economic operations of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the Emergency Situations Ministry, the Federal Agency for Fishery, the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring and other clients, and to provide information for environmental monitoring and protection.

Kondor-FKA satellites, developed by NPO-Mashinostroyenia, are designed for 24/7 all-weather radar remote sensing of the Earth in medium and high resolution.