NPO Mashinostroyenia to launch two Kondor earth observation satellites
ABU DHABI. Feb 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The Reutov NPO Mashinostroyenia is presenting the Kondor-E earth observation micro-satellite cluster at the 11th international arms show IDEX 2013, company export department director Vladimir Telkov told Interfax-AVN on Monday.
"Strela rockets will launch two satellites, a Kondor of the Russian Defense Ministry and a Kondor-E of a foreign client, from Baikonur in 2013. Our satellite will be launched first," he said.
"Kondor-E satellites may carry radar or optical-electronic gadgets by the client's wish," he said.
The Kondor-E synthetic aperture radar can receive, store and transmit to ground stations high precision data in the microwave band. It is built for filming the earth 24/7 in any weather.
The Kondor-E optical-electronic equipment can receive, store and transmit to ground stations data in the visible and infrared bands.
Both modifications have up to one meter resolution. The satellites weigh up to 1,150 kilograms and have the useful life of five years.
Strela is a derivative of the RS-18 intercontinental ballistic rocket. It is capable of carrying up to two tonnes of payload to low circumterrestrial orbits. The first Strela took off Baikonur on December 5, 2003.
